Compare towns
Union vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Ware | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
10,048Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Union 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Ware 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Ware | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.