Compare towns
Erving vs Ware vs Chester vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Ware | Chester | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
6,369Highest |
1,240 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Russell 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Ware 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell 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±$20k 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$303,300±$32kHighest 46% below MA |
| Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Erving and Chester 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Russell 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Erving | — | Gateway | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.