Compare towns
Plainfield vs Westford vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Westford | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,290Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westford 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Groton 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 15% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
VT 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.