What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).

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	Lagrange
People
Population	598Lowest	709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44±10Lowest about the ME average	45.9±13.8Highest about the ME average
	Lagrange and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lagrange and Chester 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%	18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Chester and Lagrange 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%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lagrange 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	$58,417±$14kLowest 22% below ME
	Chester and Lagrange 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	$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME
	Chester and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$833±$51Highest 27% below ME	$831±$151Lowest 27% below ME
	Chester and Lagrange 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	$869Lowest 71% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lagrange 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%	18.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 34% above ME	36 minHighest 45% above ME
Work from home	9.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	8.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Chester and Lagrange 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.