What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Clarksburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).

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	Chester	Clarksburg
People
Population	1,240Lowest	1,667Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA	49.8±7.1Highest 25% above MA
	Clarksburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Chester and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	29.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Clarksburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA	$77,143±$11kLowest 26% below MA
	Chester and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$281,900±$14kHighest 50% below MA	$239,900±$18kLowest 57% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA	$1,125±$190Highest 36% below MA
	Clarksburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,522Highest 25% below MA	$2,993Lowest 50% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	65.2%±56.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Clarksburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%	4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	24 minLowest 18% below MA
Work from home	7%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	5.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chester and Clarksburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Gateway	Clarksburg
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.