What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Chaplin has the highest household income ($98k).

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	North Adams	Chaplin
People
Population	12,606Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	North Adams and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Adams and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S.	$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S.	$255,200±$24kHighest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,524Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Adams and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 34% below U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chaplin and North Adams 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	#268 of 282 in MA	—
School district	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Charles McCann Vocational Technical	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	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.