Compare towns

Erving vs Stoneham 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Wendell has the oldest population (median age 47.1).

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.

MeasureErvingStonehamWendell
People
Population
1,703
23,355Highest
850Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%
MA: +7.4%
+9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.4
8% above MA
42.2±2.2Lowest
6% above MA
47.1±8.8Highest
18% above MA
Wendell and Erving 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%
20.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
16%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Stoneham 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%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
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%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Wendell and Stoneham 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
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$65,288±$14kLowest
37% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
$290,300±$31k
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,163±$213Lowest
34% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,239±$519
30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,870Lowest
69% below MA
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$4,519
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.5%±23
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
21.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1964
same as MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.8%±7.8
MA: 18.6%
Stoneham and Wendell 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 — #117 of 282 in MA —
School district Erving Stoneham New Salem-Wendell
High school in town None in town Stoneham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
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.