Compare towns
Webster vs Chester vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Chester has the most homeowners (82.5%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 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 | Webster | Chester | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,240Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Chester and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$69,371±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$68 35% below MA |
| Webster and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Springfield Town and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Gateway | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.