What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chaplin	Springfield
People
Population	2,070Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,200±$24kHighest 23% below U.S.	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Chaplin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Chaplin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Chaplin 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%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin and Springfield 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	—	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Springfield
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.