Compare towns
Erving vs Exeter vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Exeter | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Northfield 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 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Northfield 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.