Compare towns
Hampton vs Gardner vs Union vs Hartland
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 kids (19.7% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Hartland has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Gardner | Union | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
21,148Highest |
944Lowest |
1,840 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
48.8±4.9 25% 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 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 | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$113,375±$13kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$350,700±$21kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,819±$478Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Hampton 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$5,633Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±54.9Lowest 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 | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hartland and Hampton 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 | Hampton School District | Gardner | Union School District | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.