What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chaplin	Cheshire
People
Population	2,070Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.	53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chaplin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cheshire and Chaplin 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%	26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.	$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Chaplin and Cheshire 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.	$268,200±$48kHighest 19% below U.S.
	Cheshire and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275 4% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chaplin and Cheshire 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%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#274 of 282 in MA
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Hoosac Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	10.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.