Compare towns
Erving vs Upton vs Wales vs Russell
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Wales has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Russell has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Upton | Wales | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
8,189Highest |
1,929 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Wales 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Upton and Russell 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,104±$242 37% below MA |
$1,013±$330 43% below MA |
| Erving and Wales 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.1% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wales 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Erving | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wales | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.