Compare towns
Erving vs Sutton vs Chester vs Millers Falls
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 youngest population (median age 43.3).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Millers Falls has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sutton | Chester | Millers Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
9,452Highest |
1,240 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-12.7%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 |
45.2±7.4 13% above MA |
| Chester and Millers Falls 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% |
19.7%±6.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Millers Falls 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±7.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millers Falls 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
19%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millers Falls and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$68,750±$10kLowest 34% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$254,200±$47kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,316±$181Highest 25% below MA |
| Millers Falls and Sutton 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 |
$2,212 63% 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% |
47.8%±34.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Millers Falls 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% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
76.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12%±12.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Millers Falls 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 | — | #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 | 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.