Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hanson vs Sutton vs Ashford
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).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Hanson | Sutton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,452 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Chaplin 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hanson 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Sutton 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. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ashford 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.6 |
— |
| 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.