Compare towns
Erving vs New Braintree 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
New Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
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 | New Braintree | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Highest |
973Lowest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
47.8±4.6Highest 20% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| New Braintree and Chester 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% |
20%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| New Braintree and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| New Braintree 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±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$99,500±$8kHighest 4% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| New Braintree and Chester 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 |
$408,800±$27kHighest 27% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| New Braintree and Erving 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 |
$5,508Highest 8% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±51.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.4%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| New Braintree and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Erving | Quabbin | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.