Compare towns
Chester vs Dudley vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Chester | Dudley | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
11,929Highest |
1,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
| Chester and Erving 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Chester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Dudley and Erving 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Dudley 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Chester 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Erving |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.