Compare towns
Plainville vs Temple vs Wrentham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k 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 | Temple | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
1,363Lowest |
12,297Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.8±3.2 20% above U.S. |
| Temple and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wrentham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 29% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$151,676±$17kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$654,900±$26kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,184±$628 16% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$7,373Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Contoocook Valley School District | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.