Compare towns
Union vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
21,148Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Union and Stafford 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% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Stafford 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% |
28.5%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% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,235±$16kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Stafford 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. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% 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±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Gardner 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Gardner 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Gardner | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.