What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).

Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Leyden
People
Population	1,314Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.	53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S.
	Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S.	$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S.
	Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.	$4,651Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.