Compare towns
Wendell vs Erving vs Ware vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Wendell | Erving | Ware | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 850Lowest |
1,703 |
10,048Highest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519 25% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Wendell 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 | New Salem-Wendell | Erving | Ware | Whately |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.