Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Hatfield vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Erving has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hatfield | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
1,703 |
3,325Highest |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
$77,656±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 15% below U.S. |
$271,800±$20kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
— |
| Hatfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 45% above U.S. |
$1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Erving | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.