Compare towns
Chester vs Ware vs Blandford
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Blandford has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Ware | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
10,048Highest |
1,156Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA |
| Blandford 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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±$6k 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$91,902±$13kHighest 12% below MA |
| Blandford 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 |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$287,900±$18k 49% below MA |
| Ware and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,047±$459 41% below MA |
| Chester and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,641Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.4%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.8%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blandford and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.