Compare towns
Gardner vs Hampton 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
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Hampton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
1,647 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Hampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Gardner | Hampton School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.