Compare towns
Union vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
10,048 |
1,494 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 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±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Stafford 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±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Colebrook 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. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Stafford 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% 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% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older 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. |
28 min 8% 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% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Stafford 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 | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Ware | Colebrook School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.