Compare towns
Erving vs Lee 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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
5,719Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Lee and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Wendell 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Lee 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 |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Lee 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Lee | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.