Compare towns
Wales vs Ware vs Erving
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Wales | Ware | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,929 |
10,048Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Erving and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Ware 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
| Wales and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,200±$26kHighest 47% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Wales and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
| Erving and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534Highest 24% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales 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 | — |
| School district | Wales | Ware | Erving |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.