Compare towns
Chester vs Warren 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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 | Warren | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
5,009Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Warren and Middlefield 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 |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield 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 |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Warren and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Warren 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 | — | #165 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Quaboag Regional | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.