Compare towns

Chaplin vs Harvard 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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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.

MeasureChaplinHarvardFranklin
People
Population
2,070
6,927Highest
2,004Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
44.1±4.7Highest
13% above U.S.
40.3±4.3Lowest
4% above U.S.
Harvard 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%
21.1%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Franklin and Harvard 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%
16.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Chaplin and Franklin 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%
62%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Chaplin and Franklin 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.
$213,996±$24kHighest
165% above U.S.
$105,000±$10k
30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$833,600±$54kHighest
151% above U.S.
$326,200±$20k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,321±$424
7% below U.S.
$767±$529Lowest
46% below U.S.
Chaplin and Harvard 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,934Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±51.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Harvard and Chaplin 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%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
44.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #12 of 282 in MA —
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Harvard Franklin School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School The Bromfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
11.0Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.