Compare towns
Wellesley vs Plainfield vs Wellesley
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 affordable homes ($309k median).
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 | Wellesley | Plainfield | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
616Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 282 in MA | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Wellesley |
| High school in town | — | — | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.