Compare towns
Hampton vs Spencer 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
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Hampton | Spencer | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647 |
12,008Highest |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Lowest 26% 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 | 19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Spencer 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% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Union 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. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— |
| Hampton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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 | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.