Compare towns
Chester vs Upton 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
8,189Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Middlefield and Chester 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Upton and Middlefield 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Middlefield 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.