Compare towns
Chaplin vs Douglas vs Sterling vs Mansfield
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).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Douglas | Sterling | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,207 |
3,629 |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Douglas 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Douglas 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Douglas | Sterling School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Douglas High School | None in town | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
7.2Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.