Compare towns
Chaplin vs Pepperell 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).
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Pepperell | Sutton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,452 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% |
43.8% 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% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698 115% 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% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Ashford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | North Middlesex | Sutton | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.