Compare towns
Chester vs Orange vs Worthington
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).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Worthington has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Orange | Worthington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
7,573Highest |
1,021Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
61.6±3.6Highest 54% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
39.5%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Chester and Worthington 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$91,667±$17kHighest 12% below MA |
| Worthington 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±$14k 50% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$380,400±$26kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA |
$775±$233 56% below MA |
$633±$220Lowest 64% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,443Highest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±63Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worthington 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
41 minHighest 41% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±12.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Worthington |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
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| 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.