Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Union vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ashburnham | Union | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Highest |
944Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Union and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Southampton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$452,300±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,470 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Union 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | — | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Union School District | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.