What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Union has the most kids (16.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Union
People
Population	4,946Highest	944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S.	49.9±4.3Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Union and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.	$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$107 20% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,181Highest 98% above U.S.	$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#199 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Union School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.