Compare towns
Erving vs Gill vs Webster vs Wales
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).
Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wales has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Gill | Webster | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
1,740 |
17,748Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
| Gill 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% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Webster 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% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$90,208±$14kHighest 13% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
| Gill and Wales 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 |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
| Webster and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,193±$246 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Webster and Gill 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 |
$4,318 28% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,534Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Gill 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Gill 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 | — | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Gill-Montague | Webster | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.