Compare towns
Ashford vs Needham 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
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Ashford | Needham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
32,459Highest |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Needham | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.