Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hanson vs Union 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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
10,660Highest |
944Lowest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Ashford 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest 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% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Union 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Ashford 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,246±$208Lowest 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. |
$4,793 54% 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%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hanson 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% |
5.7%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% |
92.9%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. |
1976 4 yrs older 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. |
32 minLowest 20% 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% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Whitman-Hanson | Union School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | 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.