What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

Mount Desert has the oldest population (median age 54.9).

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	Mount Desert
People
Population	2,522Highest	1,671Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average	54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mount Desert and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S.	$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S.	$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Mount Desert and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.	$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±31.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mount Desert and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mount Desert and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Plainfield School District	Mount Desert Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.