What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Groton
People
Population	17,551Highest	11,390Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.	41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Plainville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.	$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.	$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S.
	Groton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.8%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Groton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 149 in CT	#39 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	Plainville High School	Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	13.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.