What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).

Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Springfield
People
Population	616Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Lowest 30% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,000±$47kLowest 7% below U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,458Lowest 43% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.