Compare towns
Chaplin vs Saugus vs Union
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Saugus | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
28,773Highest |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Union and Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Saugus 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. |
$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Saugus 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. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Saugus 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Saugus 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 | — | #194 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Saugus | Union School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Saugus High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
15.5Highest |
— |
| 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.