Compare towns
Chaplin vs Upton vs Wilbraham
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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wilbraham 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 | Upton | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
8,189 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wilbraham 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Wilbraham 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wilbraham 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Wilbraham 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Blackstone Valley | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.2 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.

