What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most expensive homes ($243k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Groton	Plainfield
People
Population	967Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±5.8Highest 17% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,250±$14kHighest 4% below U.S.	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$70kHighest 27% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S.	$750±$207Highest 47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,659Highest 17% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	12.3%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.