What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Brookfield
People
Population	1,016Lowest	2,150Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY	41.2±6.1Highest 4% above NY
	Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY	$69,205±$9kLowest 20% below NY
	Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,100±$17kHighest 63% below NY	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY
	Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY	$981±$75Highest 39% below NY
	Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY	$3,197Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±43.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	16.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% below NY	36 minHighest 11% above NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.7 NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.1 NY: 14.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.