Compare towns
Wendell vs Gardner vs Erving
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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Erving has the highest household income ($78k).
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 | Gardner | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Wendell and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Erving 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
| Erving and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Gardner and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% 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 | $4,519Highest 25% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Gardner 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% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Gardner | Erving |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.