Compare towns
Erving vs Everett vs Wales vs Montague
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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Wales has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Montague has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Everett | Wales | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
50,045Highest |
1,929 |
8,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
44.3±3.1Highest 11% above MA |
| Montague and Erving 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montague and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$70,510±$12kLowest 32% below MA |
| Wales and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,207±$115 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
$3,922 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Montague and Wales 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Everett | Wales | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.