Compare towns
Union vs Mansfield vs Hampton vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
25,358Highest |
1,647 |
4,226 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton 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 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Mansfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Mansfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.