What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most expensive homes ($471k 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	Douglas	Chaplin
People
Population	9,207Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Douglas and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Douglas and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Douglas and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Douglas	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Douglas High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	7.5Highest
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.