Compare towns
Middlefield vs Orange 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%).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
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 | Orange | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% 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 |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Chester 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.