Compare towns
Wendell vs Plainfield vs Montague
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Montague has the shortest commute (21 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 | Plainfield | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850 |
616Lowest |
8,482Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±3.1Lowest 11% above MA |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montague 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$70,510±$12kHighest 32% below MA |
| Montague and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA |
$282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,207±$115Lowest 31% below MA |
| Plainfield and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519Highest 25% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
11.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Wendell 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 | — | — | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | — | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.