What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chaplin	Mansfield
People
Population	2,070Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Mansfield 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%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Mansfield 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%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Mansfield 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.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Chaplin 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.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
	Mansfield 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.	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mansfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mansfield 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	—	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Mansfield
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.