Compare towns
Chaplin vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Shirley | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
6,976Highest |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.7±5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Scotland and Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Scotland 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. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$99,881±$12k 24% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Scotland 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. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Chaplin 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. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ayer Shirley School District | Scotland 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.