Compare towns
Union vs Lancaster vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,647 |
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. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Lancaster 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Ashford 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% 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±$26k about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% 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% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%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% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 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 | Hampton 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.