Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Everett vs Blandford
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).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Blandford has the most people working from home (12.8%).
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 | Erving | Everett | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
1,703 |
50,045Highest |
1,156Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA |
| Blandford 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$91,902±$13kHighest 12% below MA |
| Blandford and Chester 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$287,900±$18k 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,047±$459Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,641 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.4%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.8%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blandford and Everett 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 | — | — | #264 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Erving | Everett | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Everett High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.