What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Chester has the oldest population (median age 45.9).

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	Wales	Chester
People
Population	1,929Highest	1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA	45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA
	Chester and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Chester and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wales and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wales and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA	$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA
	Chester and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,200±$26kHighest 47% below MA	$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA
	Wales and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$242 37% below MA	$1,104±$71 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,534Highest 24% below MA	$4,522Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%	54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wales and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest MA: 10%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wales and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wales	Gateway
High school in town	None 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.