Compare towns
Marblehead vs Plainfield vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Marblehead | Plainfield | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
616Lowest |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
| Plainfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
| Marblehead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Marblehead | — | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.