Compare towns
Chester vs Fall River 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 most kids (24.1% under 18).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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 | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
94,082Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Fall River and Middlefield 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Chester 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% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Fall River 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | — |
| 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.