Compare towns
Chaplin vs Union vs Ware vs Mansfield
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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Union | Ware | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
944Lowest |
10,048 |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Chaplin 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,393±$12k 10% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Union 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$335,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Mansfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,602±$104Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,727Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Mansfield 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District | Ware | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.