Compare towns
Ayer vs Chaplin vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Ayer | Chaplin | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.