Compare towns
Union vs Athol vs Hampton vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Union | Athol | Hampton | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,647 |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 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+ | 24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Union School District | Athol-Royalston | Hampton School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.