What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millers Falls has the most people working from home (12%).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Millers Falls	Chester
People
Population	1,054Lowest	1,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±7.4Lowest 13% above MA	45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA
	Chester and Millers Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Chester and Millers Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±7.6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Millers Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Millers Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$10kLowest 34% below MA	$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,200±$47kLowest 55% below MA	$281,900±$14kHighest 50% below MA
	Chester and Millers Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,316±$181Highest 25% below MA	$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA
	Millers Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,212Lowest 63% below MA	$4,522Highest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±34.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chester and Millers Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest MA: 10%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 14% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	12%±12.4Highest MA: 18.6%	7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Millers Falls and Chester 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

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.