Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Danvers vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Ashford | Chaplin | Danvers | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
28,098Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.