Compare towns
Plainfield vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Upton | Heath | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
8,189Highest |
765 |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs 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 |
35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.