Compare towns

Plainfield vs Upton vs Montgomery 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldUptonMontgomeryGroton
People
Population
1,314
8,189Highest
1,047
967Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
51.5±11.3Highest
32% above U.S.
45.7±5.8Lowest
17% above U.S.
Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Plainfield 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%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Groton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below U.S.
$77,250±$14k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
$243,000±$70kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
$948±$599
33% below U.S.
$868±$209
39% below U.S.
$288±$151Lowest
80% below U.S.
Plainfield and Upton 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,326
39% above U.S.
$3,659Lowest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 — #46 of 282 in MA — —
School district — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school in town — Blackstone Valley None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.