Compare towns
Union vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 49.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Ashford 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% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% 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% |
47%±26Lowest 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Needham | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.