Compare towns
Chaplin vs Northbridge vs Putnam 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Chaplin | Northbridge | Putnam | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
16,458Highest |
9,292 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Franklin 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,934 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Putnam 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Northbridge | Putnam School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Northbridge High | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.8Highest |
9.5 |
— |
| 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.