Compare towns
Plainfield vs Augusta vs Brookfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Augusta | Brookfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
19,077Highest |
1,486 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | Cony | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.