What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).

Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Stockbridge
People
Population	616Lowest	2,056Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA
Kids under 18	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA	$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA	$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA
	Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA	$4,652Highest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stockbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stockbridge and Plainfield 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

MA 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.