Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Ware vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Russell has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Chesterfield | Ware | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,055Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,967±$11k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$409Highest 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,969Highest about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chesterfield-Goshen | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.