Compare towns
Chester vs Fall River vs Erving
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).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Fall River | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
94,082Highest |
1,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±2.4 8% above 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% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Fall River 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% 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 |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
| Erving and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Fall River 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Erving |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.