Compare towns
Union vs Easthampton 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%).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Easthampton | Hampton | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
16,086Highest |
1,647 |
11,511 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
46±2.6Lowest 18% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest 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% |
23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Lowest 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% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton 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. |
$71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$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 |
$371,500±$15kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Hampton 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. |
$4,932 58% 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% |
45.5%±10.7 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%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% |
58.4%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. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton 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 | — | #92 of 282 in MA | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Easthampton | Hampton School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | 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.