Compare towns
Chaplin vs Gardner vs Sterling vs Franklin
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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Sterling | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
21,148Highest |
3,629 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Gardner 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% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Sterling 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. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Franklin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Chaplin 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Gardner | Sterling School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.