Compare towns
Erving vs Dover vs Gill vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Erving | Dover | Gill | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,308Highest |
1,740 |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
— | $1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Gill and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Erving | — | Gill-Montague | Gateway |
| 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 | 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.