What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Groton has the most expensive homes ($243k 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	Plainfield	Groton
People
Population	1,016Highest	967Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.	45.7±5.8Highest 17% above 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	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±2.9Lowest 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+	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±5.7Lowest 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	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.	$77,250±$14kHighest 4% 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	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.	$243,000±$70kHighest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$207Highest 47% below U.S.	$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.	$3,659Highest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12.5%±72.9Lowest 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	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.3%±7Highest 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.