Compare towns
Erving vs Fall River vs Lynn 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 the most renters (64.7% rent).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Chester has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Lynn | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
94,082 |
101,709Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below 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% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% 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±$11k 30% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Chester 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% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% 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 |
1946 18 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 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Lynn and Fall River 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lynn | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Lynn English High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
15.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.