Compare towns
Ashfield vs Erving vs New Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
New Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Ashfield | Erving | New Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
1,703 |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
52.5±4 31% above MA |
| Ashfield and New Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.8%±5.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| New Marlborough and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.1%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| New Marlborough and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$117,188±$38kHighest 13% above MA |
| New Marlborough and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$608,300±$91kHighest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| New Marlborough and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,689 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
25%±82.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.3%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| New Marlborough and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Erving | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None 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.