Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Stoneham
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 oldest population (median age 48.9).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
2,872 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham 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 |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Stoneham and Northfield 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Northfield 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 | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Pioneer Valley | Stoneham |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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.