Compare towns
Plainfield vs Rowe 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%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Heath has the highest household income ($99k).
Wendell has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Rowe | Heath | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
453Lowest |
765 |
850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
47.1±8.8Lowest 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe 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% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 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 |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Plainfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
— | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
| Rowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,458 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older 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 |
36 min 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rowe | — | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.