Compare towns
Chaplin vs Salem vs Mansfield vs Hampton
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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Salem | Mansfield | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
44,795Highest |
25,358 |
1,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,602±$104 13% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Salem | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Salem High | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.8 |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.