Compare towns
Chaplin vs Devens 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).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Devens | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,723Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Devens and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Chaplin 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Lancaster 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Devens 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Lancaster 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. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Devens 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. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Lancaster 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | 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.