What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Groton	Plainville
People
Population	11,390Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Groton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Groton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#39 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Groton Dunstable Regional	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.