Compare towns
Wendell vs Plainfield vs New Braintree
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%).
New Braintree has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850 |
616Lowest |
973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
47.8±4.6 20% above MA |
| Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| New Braintree and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$99,500±$8kHighest 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$408,800±$27kHighest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA |
| New Braintree and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,508Highest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±51.2 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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.