Compare towns
Wendell vs Sutton vs Erving vs Montague
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Montague has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sutton | Erving | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 850Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,703 |
8,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
| Wendell and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Montague 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montague 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$70,510±$12k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,207±$115 31% below MA |
| Wendell and Montague 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,922 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | Sutton | Erving | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.