Compare towns
Erving vs Ogunquit vs Sheffield vs Wales
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wales has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Ogunquit | Sheffield | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
1,379Lowest |
3,330Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
42.3±4.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wales 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
$89,006±$6k 10% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Sheffield 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
$296,200±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,104±$242Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
$4,534Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wales and Erving 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #250 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | — | Southern Berkshire | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt Everett Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.