What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).

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	Monroe
People
Population	1,314Highest	122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.	60.2±9.9Highest 55% above U.S.
	Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±28Highest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Plainfield 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%	31.1%±27.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Monroe and Plainfield 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%	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9%±18.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Monroe 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±$31k 14% below U.S.	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.	$165,000±$141kLowest 50% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103 18% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.	$2,053Lowest 34% below 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 Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	38.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	56 minHighest 113% above U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	0%±41.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Monroe 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.