Compare towns
Wrentham vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Upton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,297Highest |
9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Wrentham and Upton 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% 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±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
82% 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 |
1976Lowest 12 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 |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainville |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.