Compare towns
Chaplin vs Franklin vs Mendon vs Voluntown
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 most kids (27.2% under 18).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Mendon | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
6,325Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% 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% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Mendon 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. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Franklin 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. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191 17% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% 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% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Voluntown 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Mendon 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 | — | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District | Mendon-Upton | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.