Compare towns
Stafford vs Union vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Stafford | Union | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Highest |
944Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Union and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 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 | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stafford School District | Union School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.