Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Groton | Plainfield | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,490Lowest |
15,141 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39±3.7Highest 5% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8kHighest 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Willimantic 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.