Compare towns
Union vs Ayer vs Stafford
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 people working from home (19.8%).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Ayer | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,098 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% 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 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Ayer 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% |
22%±3 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+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Ayer 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. |
$93,235±$16kHighest 15% above 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 | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Stafford 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. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ayer 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.