Compare towns
Chaplin vs Douglas vs Union
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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
9,207Highest |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Union and Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Union 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
— |
| Douglas and Chaplin 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Douglas 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Douglas | Union School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.