Compare towns
Erving vs Millis vs Rowley vs Chester
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).
Millis has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Millis | Rowley | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
8,888Highest |
6,251 |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Rowley and Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Rowley 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Millis and Rowley 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 | — | #63 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Millis | Triton | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.