Compare towns
Erving vs Needham vs Hinsdale
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 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 | Needham | Hinsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±10.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Hinsdale and Erving 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hinsdale and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$77,845±$17k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$267,600±$35kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$118Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,065 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.3%±24.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Erving 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.