What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($239k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Springfield	Plainfield
People
Population	952Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.6±9.9Highest about the NY average	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY
	Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±8.3Highest NY: 17.9%	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,965±$9kLowest 27% below NY	$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$239,100±$107kHighest 44% below NY	$155,100±$17kLowest 63% below NY
	Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$773±$129Highest 52% below NY	$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY
	Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,000Highest 54% below NY	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.6%±56.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.1%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 7% below NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Springfield and Plainfield 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

NY 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.