Compare towns
Union vs Brookfield vs Hampton 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%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,460 |
1,647 |
11,511Highest |
| 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. |
46.7±4.8Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Hampton 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% |
22%±3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% 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% |
3.5%±1.3 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±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Stafford 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±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Union 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. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Stafford 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. |
$5,131Highest 65% 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% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% 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% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Brookfield | Hampton School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.