Compare towns
Union vs Lancaster vs Colebrook 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Lancaster | Colebrook | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,494 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colebrook 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Ashford 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Nashoba | Colebrook School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.