Compare towns
Wales vs Sutton vs Erving vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Erving has the most renters (18.5% rent).
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Wales | Sutton | Erving | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,929 |
9,452Highest |
1,703Lowest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Phillipston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,375±$849Highest 22% below MA |
| Phillipston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534 24% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,914 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Wales 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Wales | Sutton | Erving | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.