Compare towns
Union vs Canton 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%).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Canton | Hampton | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
24,748Highest |
1,647 |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| 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% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Stafford 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% |
22%±3 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% |
28.5% 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% |
3.5%±1.3 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. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% 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% |
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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest 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% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% 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% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hampton School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.