What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).

Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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	Salem
People
Population	2,070Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Salem 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%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Salem 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.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Chaplin 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%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	—	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Salem
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	9.8Highest
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.