Compare towns
Erving vs Ware vs Millers Falls 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Millers Falls has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Millers Falls | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
10,048Highest |
1,054Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.2±7.4 13% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Millers Falls 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.7%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Millers Falls and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±7.6 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Millers Falls 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
19%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Millers Falls and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$68,750±$10k 34% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$254,200±$47kLowest 55% below MA |
$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,316±$181Highest 25% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
| Millers Falls 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$2,212 63% below MA |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±34.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Northfield 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
13.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12%±12.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Ware 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 | Ware | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.