Compare towns
Union vs Needham vs Colebrook
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 affordable homes ($330k median).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Needham | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | — | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.