Compare towns
Chaplin vs Colebrook vs Lancaster
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,494Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Colebrook 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%Highest 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%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Colebrook School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.