Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Ogunquit vs Sheffield
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
1,703 |
1,379 |
3,330Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% 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% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
$77,656±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Sheffield 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gateway | Erving | — | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.