Compare towns
Union vs Brookfield 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%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Brookfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,460 |
4,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashford and Union 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Brookfield 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. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Brookfield 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Brookfield 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Brookfield | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.