Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainfield vs Wendell vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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 | Maynard | Plainfield | Wendell | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
616Lowest |
850 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Plainfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 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 | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — | — | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | New Salem-Wendell | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.