What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cheshire	Chaplin
People
Population	3,216Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chaplin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cheshire and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.	$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,200±$48kHighest 19% below U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
	Cheshire and Chaplin 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.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.	$4,524Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chaplin and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#274 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Hoosac Valley High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.