Compare towns
Chester vs Sutton vs Erving vs Russell
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Russell has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Sutton | Erving | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
9,452Highest |
1,703 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Russell 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Sutton and Erving 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Gateway | Sutton | Erving | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.