Compare towns
Union vs Ayer 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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,645Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Union 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Colebrook 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Union 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% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Colebrook 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. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.