Compare towns

Erving vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.

MeasureErvingSuttonChester
People
Population
1,703
9,452Highest
1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.4Lowest
8% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
45.9±3.7Highest
15% above MA
Chester and Sutton 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%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±8.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Chester and Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
16.5%±1.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Erving and Sutton 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%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Sutton 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
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$89,390±$6k
14% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
$281,900±$14k
50% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,163±$213
34% below MA
$1,190±$401Highest
32% below MA
$1,104±$71Lowest
37% below MA
Sutton 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
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
$4,522
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.5%±23Lowest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
54.1%±22.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
1.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957
7 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1951Lowest
13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
9% above MA
Work from home
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
7%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #105 of 282 in MA —
School district Erving Sutton Gateway
High school in town None in town Sutton High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6
—
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.