Compare towns
Middlefield vs Athol vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Middlefield | Athol | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Middlefield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Athol 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.