Compare towns
Chaplin vs Sturbridge vs Plainfield
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).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Sturbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,960 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest 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% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
7.7 |
10.3Highest |
| 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.