Compare towns
Erving vs Maynard vs Chester vs Gill
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).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Gill 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 | Maynard | Chester | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
10,712Highest |
1,240Lowest |
1,740 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Chester and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Gill 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Gill 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,193±$246 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Gill 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Erving | Maynard | Gateway | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| 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.