Compare towns
Erving vs Hingham vs Wendell vs Montague
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wendell has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Montague has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Hingham | Wendell | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
24,283Highest |
850Lowest |
8,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Wendell 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Montague 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Montague 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Montague 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$70,510±$12k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,207±$115 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
$3,922 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 282 in MA | — | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Hingham | New Salem-Wendell | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.