Compare towns
Scotland vs Union vs Ware vs Sprague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scotland has the highest household income ($100k).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Scotland | Union | Ware | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,599 |
944Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.7±5 15% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
| Union and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,881±$12kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$92,850±$11k 15% above U.S. |
| Scotland and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,100±$20k 12% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Union and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,188±$468 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,247±$144Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Sprague and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,668 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Scotland 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Scotland School District | Union School District | Ware | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.