Compare towns
Mendon 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
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
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 | Mendon | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Union and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 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 | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Union School District | 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.