Compare towns
Erving vs Needham vs Wendell 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wendell has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
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 | Wendell | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
32,459Highest |
850Lowest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Wendell and Chester 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% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chester 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Erving | — | New Salem-Wendell | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.