Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hampton vs Shirley
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($396k median).
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 | Hampton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Highest |
1,647 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +11.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Shirley 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Shirley 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Shirley 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Shirley 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$395,800±$50kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Shirley 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | — | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hampton School District | — |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.

