Compare towns
Erving vs Hardwick 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Erving | Hardwick | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,684Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Erving and Hardwick 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 |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Hardwick and Wendell 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Erving 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 |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Wendell 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | New Salem-Wendell |
| 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.