What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	1,016Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.	45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brookline 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.	$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average
	Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.	$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline 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

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.