Compare towns
Chaplin vs Dudley 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Dudley | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
11,929Highest |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Union 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. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Chaplin and Dudley 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. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Dudley 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Union School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.