Compare towns
Erving vs Fall River vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Erving | Fall River | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
94,082Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Fall River and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% 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 |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Erving and Fall River 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 |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Fall River and Chester 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.