Compare towns
Chaplin vs Ayer vs Mansfield vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Chaplin | Ayer | Mansfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
8,645 |
25,358Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
— |
| Mansfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,727Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Ayer 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ayer Shirley School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.5 |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.