Compare towns
Pelham vs Ashfield vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the highest household income ($114k).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Pelham | Ashfield | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
1,893Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Ashfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Pelham | Mohawk Trail | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.