Compare towns
Union vs Brookfield vs Hampton 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 most expensive homes ($342k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,460 |
1,647 |
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. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Ashford 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% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampton 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% |
29.9% 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% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 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 |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$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. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% 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% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hampton 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% |
5.7% 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% |
90% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% 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% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.