Compare towns
Hampton vs Athol vs Union vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Hampton | Athol | Union | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
8,801Highest |
944Lowest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7 24% 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 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 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+ | 29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$356,100±$16kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,166±$191 17% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,955Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Athol 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | — | Union School District | Voluntown School District |
| 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 | 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.