What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Chester has the most people working from home (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.

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

Measure	Erving	Chester
People
Population	1,703Highest	1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA	45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA
	Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±8.5Highest 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+	22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest 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	$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA	$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA
	Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA	$281,900±$14kHighest 50% below MA
	Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA	$1,104±$71Lowest 37% 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	$1,870Lowest 69% below MA	$4,522Highest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	7%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Erving	Gateway
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.