What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k 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	Sturbridge
People
Population	2,070Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Chaplin and Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest 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	—	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Parish Hill High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.5Lowest	7.7Highest
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.