Compare towns
Chapman vs Gardner vs Mapleton vs Charlotte
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Gardner has the most expensive homes ($302k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($141k 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.
| Measure | Chapman | Gardner | Mapleton | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388 |
21,148Highest |
1,884 |
377Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.6±3.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Charlotte and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±10.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±7.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$67,813±$18k 16% below U.S. |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 44% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$140,800±$30kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 41% below U.S. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,000 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Mapleton 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.