Compare towns

Griswold vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

MeasureGriswoldPlainfieldSturbridge
People
Population
11,530
15,141Highest
9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
Griswold and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sturbridge and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Plainfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628
48% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #118 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #89 of 282 in MA
School district Griswold School District Plainfield School District Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Griswold High School Plainfield High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
10.3
7.7Lowest
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.