What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleborough	Chaplin
People
Population	24,505Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979 1 yr older than U.S.	1979 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Middleborough	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Middleborough High	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.