Compare towns
Plainfield vs Unity 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%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Unity | Brookfield | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,375 |
1,486Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%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. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Montgomery 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% |
21.6%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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Montgomery 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% 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±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%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. |
1982Highest 2 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. |
35 min 32% 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% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | Unity 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 | 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.