Compare towns

Erving vs Hadley vs Wendell

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).
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureErvingHadleyWendell
People
Population
1,703
5,306Highest
850Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
+9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.4Lowest
8% above MA
45.8±7.1
15% above MA
47.1±8.8Highest
18% above MA
Wendell and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6
MA: 19.4%
16%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Erving and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5.7
MA: 17.9%
Hadley and Wendell 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%
61.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.9
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Wendell 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
$119,259±$12kHighest
15% above MA
$65,288±$14kLowest
37% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$511,000±$43kHighest
9% below MA
$290,300±$31k
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,163±$213Lowest
34% below MA
$1,402±$132Highest
20% below MA
$1,239±$519
30% below MA
Hadley and Wendell 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
$5,271Highest
12% below MA
$4,519
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.5%±23
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.6%±40.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
21.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.8%±7.8
MA: 18.6%
Hadley and Wendell 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 — #116 of 282 in MA —
School district Erving Hadley New Salem-Wendell
High school in town None in town Hopkins Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.3
—
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.