What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Detroit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Detroit
People
Population	598Lowest	650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44±10Lowest about the ME average	45.4±13.4Highest about the ME average
	Detroit 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%	18.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Chester and Detroit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.5%±7.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Chester and Detroit 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%	12.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.2%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Detroit 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	$51,111±$22kLowest 32% below ME
	Chester and Detroit 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	$137,500±$40kLowest 54% below ME
	Chester and Detroit 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	$1,098±$263Highest 4% below ME
	Detroit and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,378Highest 55% below ME	$1,235Lowest 59% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	25.6%±46.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Detroit and Chester 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%	23.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 4 yrs newer than ME	1981 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 34% above ME	24 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	15%±9.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Detroit 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.