Compare towns
Erving vs Springfield vs Wales
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 oldest population (median age 43.3).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wales has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Springfield | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
154,749Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
| Erving and Wales 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
22.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Wales 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±$20k 52% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$296,200±$26kHighest 47% below MA |
| Wales and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Erving and Springfield 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 |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,534Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales and Springfield 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Springfield | Wales |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.