What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	2,522Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average	42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
	Pepperell 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.	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,904Highest 153% above U.S.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell 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%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 120 in NH	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	North Middlesex
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.