Compare towns
Goshen vs Ware vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
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 | Goshen | Ware | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 915Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,967±$11kHighest about the MA average |
| Chesterfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$390,800±$48kHighest 30% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,078±$409Highest 39% below MA |
| Chesterfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,022 16% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Goshen and Chesterfield 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 | — | Ware | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.