Compare towns
Plainville vs Dalton vs Wrentham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Wrentham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Plainville | Dalton | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
6,256Lowest |
12,297Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
| Dalton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,184±$628 33% below MA |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 11% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,373Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Central Berkshire | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.