Compare towns
Union vs Sutton vs Colebrook vs Stafford
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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Sutton | Colebrook | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
9,452 |
1,494 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Colebrook 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% 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% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Sutton | Colebrook School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.