Compare towns
Wendell vs Dedham vs Plainfield vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Wendell | Dedham | Plainfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 850 |
25,237Highest |
616Lowest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Plainfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519 25% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Whately 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Dedham | — | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.