Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Windham vs Gill
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%).
Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
2,872 |
19,188Highest |
1,740 |
| 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% |
+3.4% 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. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Gill 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% |
19%±8.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gill 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% |
21.1%±1.7 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% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gill 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 4% below U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$90,208±$14k 12% 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. |
$340,100±$17k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,193±$246 16% below U.S. |
| Windham and Gill 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. |
$4,318 38% 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% |
62.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gill 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% 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% |
82.3% 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. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below 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% |
14.9%±8 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 | Gill-Montague |
| 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.