Compare towns
Wendell vs Whately vs Plainfield
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%).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Whately | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850 |
1,499Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% 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% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Whately 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% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest 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 |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% 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 | $4,519 25% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Plainfield 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Whately | — |
| 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.