Compare towns
Plainfield vs Peru vs Brookfield vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Peru | Brookfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
630Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
| Peru and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.