Compare towns
Erving vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Northfield 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Needham | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.