Compare towns
Erving vs Rowley vs Rowley 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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).
Wendell has the most people working from home (16.8%).
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 | Rowley | Rowley | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
1,708 |
6,251Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Rowley 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% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Wendell 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% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Wendell 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rowley and Rowley 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 |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Rowley and Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Rowley 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | — | Triton | 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 | 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.