Compare towns
Chester vs Worthington vs Erving
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).
Worthington has the most people working from home (28.2%).
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Worthington | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
1,021Lowest |
1,703Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
61.6±3.6Highest 54% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Erving 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% |
39.5%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Erving 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 |
$91,667±$17kHighest 12% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Worthington 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 |
$380,400±$26kHighest 32% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$633±$220Lowest 64% below MA |
$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
| Erving and Chester 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 |
$5,443Highest 9% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±63Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worthington 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
93.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
41 minHighest 41% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±12.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Gateway | Worthington | Erving |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.