What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k 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	Pembroke	Chaplin
People
Population	18,382Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Pembroke and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Pembroke and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,585Highest 111% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pembroke and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Pembroke	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Pembroke High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	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.