Compare towns
Lancaster vs Chaplin vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Lancaster | Chaplin | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest 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+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | Nashoba | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| 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.