Compare towns
Plainfield vs Marblehead vs Wendell vs Ashfield
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 homeowners (98%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Marblehead | Wendell | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
20,413Highest |
850 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Plainfield 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% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest 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 | 16.9% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Plainfield 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | New Salem-Wendell | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.