Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Warren
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).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
1,703 |
5,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Chester and Erving 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Warren 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%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Warren and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Chester and Erving 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 |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Erving and Chester 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Warren and Chester 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 | — | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gateway | Erving | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.