What stands out worked out from the figures below

Abbot has the most people working from home (23.1%).

Chester has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Abbot	Chester
People
Population	584Lowest	598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.6±3.5Highest 8% above ME	44±10Lowest about the ME average
	Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	6.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,542±$24kLowest 22% below ME	$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,200±$36kLowest 42% below ME	$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,111±$73Highest about the ME average	$833±$51Lowest 27% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,393Highest 54% below ME	$1,378Lowest 55% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.7%±41.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	77.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 11% above ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	23.1%±17.1Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.