Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Wareham 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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Wareham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,872 |
23,302Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Wareham 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%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester 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%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Northfield 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% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Northfield and Wareham 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Wareham 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±$200 35% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$4,341 28% below 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% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Pioneer Valley | Wareham | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.