Compare towns
Gardner vs Griswold vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Gardner | Griswold | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,530Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Plainfield 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Griswold School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Griswold High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.