Compare towns

Plainfield vs Wendell vs Tolland

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 people working from home (26.2%).
Wendell has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Tolland has the highest household income ($106k).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWendellTolland
People
Population
616
850Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
50.6±9.5
27% above MA
47.1±8.8Lowest
18% above MA
51.7±7.2Highest
29% above MA
Tolland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±9.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17.8%±5.5
MA: 19.4%
Plainfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5.7
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±4.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Plainfield and Wendell 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%
51.2%
MA: 47.3%
39.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.9
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.6Lowest
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
$65,288±$14k
37% below MA
$106,250±$10kHighest
about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,000±$47k
45% below MA
$290,300±$31kLowest
48% below MA
$355,700±$22kHighest
37% below MA
Tolland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$558Highest
27% below MA
$1,239±$519Lowest
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
$4,519Highest
25% below MA
$2,714Lowest
55% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
MA: 51.8%
55.6%±40.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
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%
21.3%Highest
MA: 10%
6.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
94.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 min
30% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
38 minHighest
32% above MA
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.8%±7.8
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±5.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — New Salem-Wendell —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.