Compare towns
Union vs Oxford 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%).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($375k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Oxford | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
13,385Highest |
1,647 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
42±2.8 8% 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% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 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% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford 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. |
$103,862±$10k 29% above 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 |
$374,900±$18kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,177±$142Lowest 17% 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. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Oxford 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% |
7.7%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% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 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 | — | #245 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Oxford | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oxford High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.