Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Needham vs Middlefield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Needham | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
1,703 |
32,459Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chester 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% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Erving | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.