What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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	Wayne
People
Population	1,016Lowest	1,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Plainfield and Wayne 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%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,673±$6kLowest 18% below NY	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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 63% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Plainfield 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	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
	Wayne 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	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Plainfield and Wayne 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

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.