Compare towns
Erving vs Worcester 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 highest household income ($78k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Wendell has the most people working from home (16.8%).
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 | Worcester | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
207,055Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Erving and Worcester 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 |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Worcester and Wendell 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 |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Worcester 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Worcester 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
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| 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.