Compare towns
Wendell vs New Braintree vs Heath
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%).
New Braintree has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | New Braintree | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850 |
973Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
47.8±4.6 20% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| New Braintree and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$99,500±$8kHighest 4% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| New Braintree and Heath 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 |
$408,800±$27kHighest 27% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA |
— |
| New Braintree and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519 25% below MA |
$5,508Highest 8% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±51.2 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and New Braintree 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None 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.