Compare towns
Union vs Gardner vs Hampton
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 expensive homes ($330k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Gardner | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% 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% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Union and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | Gardner | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.