Compare towns
Shirley vs Chaplin vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Shirley | Chaplin | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
2,070 |
2,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,494±$62kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$50kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,398Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,524Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| 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.