Compare towns
Erving vs Northborough 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Northborough | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
15,750Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Chester and Northborough 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% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Erving 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 |
$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,983Highest 33% above MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Northborough 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% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #35 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Algonquin Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.