Compare towns
Northfield vs Webster vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Northfield | Webster | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Highest |
2,227 |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$77,656±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Webster and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$271,800±$20kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
| Webster and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Merrimack Valley School District | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.