Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Cheshire, Massachusetts, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Cheshire, Massachusetts. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Cheshire, Massachusetts. The estimated population of Cheshire, Massachusetts is 3,243 people, with a median age of 52.

We can look at the total population in Cheshire over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
3,243
+3.35%
+2.34%
2020
3,138
-0.66% -
2019
3,159
-0.41% -
2018
3,172
+0.09%
-
2017
3,169
- -

Population of Cheshire, Massachusetts by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
92.9%
98.4%
-5.59%
Black/African American
0.7%
0%
0.00%
Native
0.2%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
1.2%
1.4%
-14.29%
Asian
0.9%
0%
0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
4.1%
0.2%
+1,950.00%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Cheshire, Massachusetts by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 52 -0.57% 50.9 +0.2% 52.9 -1.49%
2020 52.3 +1.95% 50.8 +0.2% 53.7 +2.48%
2019 51.3 +0.59% 50.7 -0.78% 52.4 +3.15%
2018 51 +5.81% 51.1 +6.02% 50.8 +5.39%
2017 48.2 - 48.2 - 48.2 -

The median age of Cheshire, Massachusetts gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 139 +40.89% 159 +28.9% 169 174
10 to 19 192 -7.09% 137 +39.9% 139 187
20 to 29 129 +85.11% 136 -8.03% 257 124
30 to 39 176 -40.95% 189 -53.56% 112 104
40 to 49 191 -49.72% 234 -61.61% 93 103
50 to 59 280 +14.92% 317 -2.86% 322 302
60 to 69 233 +9.83% 214 +49.17% 246 335
70+ 210 +34.96% 233 +30.48% 288 288

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Cheshire, Massachusetts is $69,069.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Cheshire.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $105,518.00
  • 45 to 64
    $77,150.00
  • 65 and over
    $40,972.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Cheshire, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Cheshire, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Cheshire, Massachusetts is currently $82,561.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.77% of households in Cheshire are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Cheshire against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    13.25%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    18.56%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    22.73%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    10.34%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    23.92%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.43%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.77%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Cheshire is $38,249.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Cheshire by the total population of Cheshire.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Cheshire, Massachusetts, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Cheshire to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    11.40%
  • Bachelor's degree
    34.65%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    22.62%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    29.24%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.09%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Cheshire that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Cheshire over the age of 16 is 2,768.

Of those people, a total of 56.40% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Cheshire is 52.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 194 29.40% 7.00%
20 to 24 years 85 41.20% 100.00%
25 to 29 years 296 94.30% 5.00%
30 to 34 years 80 70.00% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 221 93.70% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 435 93.80% 7.10%
55 to 59 years 300 69.00% 3.90%
60 to 64 years 339 53.10% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 569 23.40% 0.00%
75 years and over 249 0.00% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Cheshire. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 2,617 56.10% 6.10%
Black or African American 8 100.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 7 100.00% 0.00%
Asian 28 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 0 0.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 108 48.10% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 12 75.00% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,611 56.00% 6.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Cheshire as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Cheshire is 1,456, with median earnings of $53,601.00.

Women in Cheshire, Massachusetts earning approximately 90.10% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,456 $53,601.00
Male 730 $54,840.00
Female 726 $49,408.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 164 $63,889.00
Business and Financial 61 $58,563.00
Computer and Mathematical 49 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 5 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 41 $48,646.00
Legal 23 $0.00
Educational and Library 153 $67,656.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 24 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 228 $54,500.00
Healthcare Support 64 $34,900.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 15 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 19 $28,516.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 67 $15,240.00
Personal Care and Service 72 $30,536.00
Sales 151 $67,546.00
Office and Administrative Support 109 $35,662.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 4 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 86 $13,750.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 82 $85,000.00
Production 29 $28,472.00
Transportation and Material Moving 0 $0.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 91 $54,464.00 73 $75,893.00
Business and Financial 27 $0.00 34 $50,417.00
Computer and Mathematical 49 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 5 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 14 $0.00 27 $0.00
Legal 0 $0.00 23 $0.00
Educational and Library 39 $88,750.00 114 $64,254.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 12 $0.00 12 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 60 $54,397.00 168 $57,500.00
Healthcare Support 18 $0.00 46 $34,800.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 15 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 3 $0.00 16 $0.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 59 $15,625.00 8 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 10 $0.00 62 $22,348.00
Sales 135 $48,897.00 16 $0.00
Office and Administrative Support 3 $0.00 106 $35,441.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 4 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 86 $13,750.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 77 $105,152.00 5 $0.00
Production 13 $0.00 16 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 0 $0.00 0 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,509 households in Cheshire, with an average household size of 2.15 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 919 families in Cheshire with an average family size of 2.76 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 784 58 77 590
Average Household Size 2.78 2.19 2.92 1.2
Total Families 784 58 77 0
Average Household Size 2.78 2.19 2.92 0

Poverty

Of the 919 families in Cheshire, 4.40% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Cheshire:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 1,659 housing units in Cheshire, Massachusetts.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,509 90.96%
Vacant 150 9.04%

9.16% of the total 1,659 housing units in Cheshire are rental units. This is approximately 152 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 1,329 are occupied by the owner - or 80.11% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Cheshire is $1,250.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Cheshire that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    28
  • Less than $500
    0
  • $500 to $999
    66
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    61
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    25
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Cheshire is $210,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Cheshire that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    114
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    132
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    91
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    262
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    519
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    155
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    56
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Cheshire. The chart below shows the number of properties in Cheshire that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    604
  • 1940 to 1949
    31
  • 1950 to 1959
    140
  • 1960 to 1969
    151
  • 1970 to 1979
    313
  • 1980 to 1989
    198
  • 1990 to 1999
    98
  • 2000 to 2009
    80
  • 2010 to 2013
    44
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Cheshire that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    56
  • 1 vehicle available
    482
  • 2 vehicles available
    683
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    288

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Cheshire get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Cheshire that commute to work in a particular way.

26.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Cheshire.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    57
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    41
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    178
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    211
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    343
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    223
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    166
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    22
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    25
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    23
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    59
  • 90 or more minutes
    61

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Cheshire, Massachusetts in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.