What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

Abbot has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Abbot
People
Population	598Highest	584Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44±10Lowest about the ME average	48.6±3.5Highest 8% above ME
	Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	6.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME	$58,542±$24kLowest 22% below ME
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME	$171,200±$36kLowest 42% below ME
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$833±$51Lowest 27% below ME	$1,111±$73Highest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,378Lowest 55% below ME	$1,393Highest 54% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4%	6.7%±41.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 34% above ME	27 minLowest 11% above ME
Work from home	9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	23.1%±17.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.