Compare towns
Union vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k 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 | Westminster | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,374Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Ashford 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% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Westminster 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.