What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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	Lincoln
People
Population	1,016Lowest	1,394Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.	45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Lincoln 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%	22.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Lincoln 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.	$96,667±$18kHighest 20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.	$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.	$870±$47Highest 38% below U.S.
	Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln 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%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Lincoln Town School District
High school 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.