Compare towns
Chaplin vs Sturbridge vs Voluntown
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 highest household income ($137k).
Voluntown has the shortest commute (31 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 | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,960Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Voluntown 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% |
17.6%±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% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Voluntown 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. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% 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. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Voluntown and Sturbridge 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | 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 |
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.