Compare towns
Chaplin vs Colebrook vs Harvard 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
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Chaplin | Colebrook | Harvard | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,494Lowest |
6,927Highest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Harvard 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Colebrook 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. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Colebrook School District | Harvard | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.