Compare towns
Erving vs Ware vs Wendell vs Northfield
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).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Wendell | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
10,048Highest |
850Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Wendell 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Wendell 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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±$15k 35% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
| Wendell 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 |
$4,519 25% 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% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Wendell 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% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | Ware | New Salem-Wendell | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.