Compare towns
Chaplin vs Halifax vs Hanson 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%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Halifax | Hanson | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
7,748 |
10,660Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Hanson 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% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Hanson 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% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Halifax 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. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Halifax 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.