Compare towns
Union vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k 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 | Sturbridge | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
9,960Highest |
1,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 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%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% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.