Compare towns
Union vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Orange | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,647 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Hampton 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% |
20.3%±3.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 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±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hampton 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 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. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.