What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most expensive homes ($415k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

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

Measure	Deerfield	Chaplin
People
Population	5,158Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Deerfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chaplin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Deerfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Deerfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest 87% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chaplin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin and Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	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.