Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bourne 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
Plainfield has the most kids (19% under 18).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
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 | Plainfield | Bourne | Ashfield | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
20,323Highest |
1,893 |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$91,058±$7kHighest 12% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Bourne and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | #206 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Mohawk Trail | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.