Compare towns
Chaplin vs Barre vs Ashford
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 most affordable homes ($255k median).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Ashford has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Chaplin | Barre | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
5,572Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashford and Barre 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% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Barre 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. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Quabbin | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.