Compare towns
Union vs Ayer vs Woodstock
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 affordable homes ($330k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Woodstock has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,645Highest |
8,319 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.3±5.9 27% above U.S. |
| Union and Woodstock 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% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Woodstock 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Woodstock 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest 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±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$112,011±$21kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Woodstock 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. |
$417,200±$22k 25% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,202±$94Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Woodstock 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. |
$5,357Highest 72% 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% |
22.2%±16Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Woodstock 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 | #85 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Woodstock School District · The Woodstock Academy District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Woodstock Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.