What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k 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	Natick	Chaplin
People
Population	36,873Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Natick and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Highest 186% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Natick and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Natick 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	#48 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Natick	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Natick High	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	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.