Compare towns
Plainfield vs Douglas 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Douglas | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
9,207Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Groton 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Douglas 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Douglas 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.