Compare towns
Union vs Ayer vs Ashford
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%).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($445k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Ayer | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,098 |
4,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Ayer 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% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Ashford 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. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ashford 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Ashford 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.