Compare towns
Erving vs Hardwick 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
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 | Hardwick | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Wales 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Wales and Erving 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 |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
| Hardwick and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Erving and Hardwick 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,534Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%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 |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales and Hardwick 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Quabbin | Wales |
| 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 |
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.