Compare towns
Erving vs Ware vs Gill vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Ware | Gill | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,740 |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Gill 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Gill 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Northfield 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Northfield and Gill 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
| Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
| Gill and Erving 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gill 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Northfield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | — | Gill-Montague | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.