Compare towns
Chaplin vs Sprague vs Sturbridge vs Franklin
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).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Sprague | Sturbridge | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,962 |
9,960Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sprague and Sturbridge 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% |
17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sturbridge 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% |
19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Sprague 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% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Sturbridge 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. |
$92,850±$11kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$273,500±$17k 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,668 50% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | — | #141 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sprague School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 7.7Highest |
— |
| 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.