Compare towns
Franklin vs Lancaster 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
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Franklin | Lancaster | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Nashoba | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.