Compare towns
Stoneham vs Chaplin vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Stoneham | Chaplin | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Stoneham | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.