Compare towns
Chaplin vs Salem vs Scotland
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).
Scotland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
44,795Highest |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Scotland 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Scotland and Chaplin 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Scotland 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% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Lowest 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±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$99,881±$12kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Scotland 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. |
$294,100±$20k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2Lowest 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 | Scotland School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.