Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Wareham vs Russell
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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Wareham | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
1,703 |
23,302Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
| Wareham and Russell 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% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Russell 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 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell and Wareham 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Wareham and Erving 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older 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 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham and Russell 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 | — | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Erving | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.