Compare towns

Erving vs Northfield vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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).
Windham 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.

MeasureErvingNorthfieldWindham
People
Population
1,703Lowest
2,872
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.4
11% above U.S.
48.9±4.2Highest
26% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield and Windham 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
4% below U.S.
$103,375±$10k
28% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
Windham 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
18% below U.S.
$375,800±$31k
13% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham 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
18% below U.S.
$1,142±$200Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,870Lowest
40% below U.S.
$4,594Highest
47% above U.S.
$3,938
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.5%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
3.6%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #95 of 133 in ME
School district Erving Pioneer Valley RSU 14
High school in town None in town Pioneer Valley Regional Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.