Compare towns
Plainfield vs Becket 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 the most people working from home (16.4%).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Groton has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Becket | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,962Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Becket 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% |
21.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Becket and Plainfield 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% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$80,417±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Becket 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. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Becket and Plainfield 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. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Plainfield 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.