Compare towns
Erving vs Oakham vs Whately vs Gill
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Oakham | Whately | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
1,639 |
1,499Lowest |
1,740Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Gill and Oakham 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill 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±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham 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±$20k 25% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
| Gill 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 |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Erving | Quabbin | Whately | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.