What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).

Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

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	Sheffield	Plainfield
People
Population	3,330Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,520Highest 45% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#250 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Southern Berkshire	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	10.3Highest
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.