Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Windsor 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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Windsor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,872 |
3,554Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% 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% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Windsor 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%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% 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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20k 18% below U.S. |
$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$281,900±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71 22% below U.S. |
| 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 40% below U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% 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% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Erving | Pioneer Valley | — | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.