Compare towns
Chester vs Ware 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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
10,048Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest 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%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Russell 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 |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell 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±$28k 48% below MA |
$303,300±$32kHighest 46% below MA |
| Russell and Ware 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±$109 41% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Chester and Ware 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest 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% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Russell 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.