What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Plainfield has the most kids (19% 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	Stockbridge	Plainfield
People
Population	2,056Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA
Kids under 18	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA	$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA
	Plainfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,652Highest 22% below MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stockbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stockbridge 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

MA 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.