Compare towns
Plainfield vs Needham vs Heath 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 homeowners (98%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Wendell has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Plainfield | Needham | Heath | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
32,459Highest |
765 |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Heath 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Heath 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.