Compare towns
Erving vs Maynard vs Northfield
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%).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Maynard | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
10,712Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Maynard and Northfield 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Maynard | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.