Compare towns
Wrentham vs Fairhaven vs Upton vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Wrentham | Fairhaven | Upton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,297 |
15,903Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Upton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373 23% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Fairhaven | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainville |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Fairhaven High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.