Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampden 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 expensive homes ($318k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Hampden | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,896Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Hampden 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. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hampden 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. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Hampden 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. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hampden 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.