Compare towns
Gardner vs Plainville 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%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,551 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Plainfield 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. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Plainville 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Plainfield 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. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Plainville 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. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Plainville 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% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Gardner | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Plainville High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
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.