Compare towns
Middlefield vs Chester vs Washington
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 highest household income ($104k).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Washington 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 | Middlefield | Chester | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
1,240Highest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington 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% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Middlefield and Chester 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 |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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 |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Middlefield 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 |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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.