Compare towns
Erving vs Lynn 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).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Wales has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Lynn | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
101,709Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
| Erving and Wales 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% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 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 |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn 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% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales and Lynn 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 | — | #277 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Lynn | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynn English High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0 |
— |
| 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.