What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

Stoughton has the most expensive homes ($524k median).

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	Stoughton
People
Population	2,070Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Stoughton 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%	18.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stoughton 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%	20.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Stoughton 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%	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Stoughton 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.	$104,794±$6kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Stoughton 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.	$523,800±$28kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,050±$200Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.	$6,215Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin and Stoughton 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	—	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Stoughton
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	10.8Highest
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.