Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Oakham
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).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Oakham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Northfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,872Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Northfield 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Erving 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Oakham 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 |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Erving 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 |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #231 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Pioneer Valley | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.