Compare towns
Union vs Sutton vs Chaplin 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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Sutton | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
9,452Highest |
2,070 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Chaplin 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ashford 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ashford 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Sutton | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.