Compare towns
Chester vs Webster vs Erving 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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Webster | Erving | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
17,748Highest |
1,703 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Erving 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% 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±$14k 50% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Webster and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Webster 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Webster 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Gateway | Webster | Erving | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.