Compare towns
Chaplin vs Franklin vs Hanover vs Sterling
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).
Franklin has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Franklin | Hanover | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
14,845Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Hanover 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% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Hanover 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% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Franklin 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% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Franklin 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. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanover and Chaplin 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. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Chaplin 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | — | #69 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.