Compare towns
Chester vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($282k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Needham | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
32,459Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chester 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.