Compare towns
Douglas vs Union vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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.
| Measure | Douglas | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Union and Douglas 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Chaplin 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Douglas 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.