Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Upton 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).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Northfield | Upton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,872 |
8,189Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Northfield and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Erving and Northfield 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 |
$4,594 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Pioneer Valley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.