Compare towns
Union vs Needham vs Hampton
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,647 |
| 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. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% 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% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | — | Hampton 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.