Compare towns
Pelham vs Wendell vs Leverett
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 most kids (21% under 18).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Wendell | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
850Lowest |
1,608Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
| Leverett 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% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett 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% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Leverett 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 |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
| Pelham and Leverett 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 |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
| Pelham and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,389±$135Highest 21% below MA |
| Leverett and Wendell 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 |
$4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett 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% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
10%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Pelham | New Salem-Wendell | Leverett |
| 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.