Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Windham vs Chester
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%).
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 | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,872 |
19,188Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest 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. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Chester 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Windham 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% |
16.5%±1.9 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% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$89,390±$6k 11% 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. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below 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±$200 19% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Northfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%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% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| 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% |
7%±2.7 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 | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.