Compare towns
Union vs Upton vs Putnam 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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Upton | Putnam | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,189 |
9,292Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Putnam 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Putnam 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Putnam School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.