Compare towns

Groton vs Plainfield vs Upton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureGrotonPlainfieldUpton
People
Population
967Lowest
1,314
8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±5.8Lowest
17% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Plainfield and Upton 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%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Groton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,250±$14k
4% below U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$70kLowest
27% below U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$288±$151Lowest
80% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
$948±$599
33% below U.S.
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,659Lowest
17% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12.5%±72.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Plainfield 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 — — #46 of 282 in MA
School district — — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town — — Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
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.