Compare towns
Plainfield vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
9,100Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.