Compare towns

Plainfield vs Colrain 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%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldColrainGroton
People
Population
1,314
1,627Highest
967Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
45.7±5.8Lowest
17% above U.S.
Colrain 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%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Colrain 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%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Groton and Colrain 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.
$80,673±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$77,250±$14k
4% below U.S.
Colrain 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±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$243,000±$70kLowest
27% below U.S.
Plainfield and Colrain 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.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$288±$151Lowest
80% below U.S.
Plainfield and Colrain 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.
$4,317
38% above U.S.
$3,659Lowest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mohawk Trail —
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.