The Town FilesWendell, Massachusetts
Town in Franklin County · population 924 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $290,300
- Household income
- $65,288
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.1
Wendell is a town of 924 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $290,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 94% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 72% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 72% of Massachusetts towns.
How Wendell ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wendell is worth $290,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $65,288, which is more affordable than 57% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,239 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wendell | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,239 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $65,288 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Wendell
| People | Wendell | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Wendell
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.7 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wendell since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 11, 2006 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 22, 2013.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 25,435 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,261 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Wendell itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Towns near Wendell
- Erving, MA4.1 mi · 1,665 people · home $271,800
- Millers Falls, MA4.6 mi · 994 people · home $254,200
- Montague, MA5.6 mi · 8,580 people · home $282,100
- Orange, MA6.8 mi · 7,569 people · home $245,900
- Orange, MA6.8 mi · 3,636 people · home $231,400
- Shutesbury, MA6.9 mi · 1,717 people · home $376,100
- Gill, MA7.0 mi · 1,551 people · home $340,100
- Leverett, MA7.2 mi · 1,865 people · home $435,500
Wendell questions
Is Wendell, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wendell scores better for retirees than 72% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 94%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Wendell?
The median owner-occupied home in Wendell is valued at $290,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,288, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,239 a month.
What is the weather like in Wendell?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.7 inches of snow.
Does Wendell get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wendell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 11, 2006. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)