What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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	Wayne	Plainfield
People
Population	1,033Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Plainfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY	$70,673±$6kLowest 18% below NY
	Wayne and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY	$155,100±$17kLowest 63% below NY
	Wayne and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY	$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY
	Wayne and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Highest 40% below NY	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	7.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Plainfield and Wayne 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.