Compare towns
Erving vs Oakham vs Wendell
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Oakham | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Highest |
1,639 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Oakham and Wendell 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell 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 MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Oakham 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 25% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Oakham and Erving 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Oakham 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Erving | Quabbin | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.