Compare towns
Franklin vs Upton vs Sterling 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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Upton | Sterling | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,629 |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Chaplin 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sterling School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.