Compare towns
Pepperell vs Mendon vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Pepperell | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
6,325Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Mendon 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.