Compare towns
Medfield vs Plainfield vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medfield has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Wayland has the most expensive homes ($978k 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 | Medfield | Plainfield | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,068Lowest |
15,141Highest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45±1.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Wayland and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Medfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $235,800±$32kHighest 192% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$224,000±$28k 177% above U.S. |
| Medfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,100±$32k 174% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$978,400±$36kHighest 194% above U.S. |
| Wayland and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$559Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,475±$603 4% above U.S. |
| Medfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Medfield and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Medfield and Wayland 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 | #26 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medfield | Plainfield School District | Wayland |
| High school in town | Medfield Senior High | Plainfield High School | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.