Compare towns
Wrentham vs Rowley 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
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Rowley | Upton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,297Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest 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±$26k 17% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rowley and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Rowley 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% 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 |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer 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 |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainville |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 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.