Compare towns

Chaplin vs Pepperell vs Voluntown

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 expensive homes ($482k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).

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.

MeasureChaplinPepperellVoluntown
People
Population
2,070Lowest
11,663Highest
2,604
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Lowest
9% above U.S.
48.3±1.7Highest
24% above U.S.
Voluntown 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%
16.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Pepperell and Voluntown 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%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chaplin and Pepperell 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%
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%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
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±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
$101,964±$25k
26% above U.S.
Pepperell and Voluntown 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±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
$356,100±$16k
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
$1,166±$191Lowest
17% 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.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
$4,955
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±24.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Pepperell and Voluntown 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%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
31 minLowest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.9%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #153 of 282 in MA #53 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 North Middlesex Voluntown School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.