Compare towns
Harvard vs Groton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Harvard | Groton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
11,390 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Groton and Harvard 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Harvard | Groton-Dunstable | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
13.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.