Compare towns
Middlefield vs Bourne 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 homeowners (94.1%).
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Bourne | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
1,806Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7 42% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Bourne and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne 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 |
$97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Middlefield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,835Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Middlefield 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 | — | #206 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.