What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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	Mansfield
People
Population	1,314Highest	691Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.	54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.
	Mansfield 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%	15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Plainfield 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.	$83,304±$14kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Mansfield 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±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.	$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103 18% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.	$4,122Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Mansfield 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Mansfield 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.