Compare towns
Chapman vs Winchendon vs Mapleton vs Starks
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).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k median).
Mapleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Winchendon | Mapleton | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
10,440Highest |
1,884 |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Starks 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% |
21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% 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. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 41% below U.S. |
$3,780Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Winchendon | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Murdock High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.