Compare towns
Union vs Canton 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%).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 | Canton | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
24,748Highest |
1,647 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton 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% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Canton 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. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Canton and Ashford 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 |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% 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% |
52.4%±9.1 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Ashford 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.