Compare towns
Erving vs New Braintree vs Wendell
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
New Braintree has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | New Braintree | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Highest |
973 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
47.8±4.6Highest 20% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| New Braintree and Wendell 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% |
20%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| New Braintree and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| New Braintree and Wendell 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% |
41.4% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and New Braintree 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 |
$99,500±$8kHighest 4% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$408,800±$27kHighest 27% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| New Braintree and Wendell 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 |
$5,508Highest 8% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±51.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and New Braintree 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.4%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Erving | Quabbin | New Salem-Wendell |
| 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 |
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.