Compare towns
Wales vs Webster 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 people working from home (13.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,929 |
17,748Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Erving and Wales 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Webster 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% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% 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±$26k 47% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Webster and Erving 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Erving 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wales and Webster 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wales | Webster | Erving |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.