Compare towns

Union vs Whitman vs Colebrook

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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

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.

MeasureUnionWhitmanColebrook
People
Population
944Lowest
15,295Highest
1,494
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.9±4.3
28% above U.S.
40.4±1.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
52.1±5Highest
34% 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%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Colebrook 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%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.2Highest
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%
31.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Colebrook and Whitman 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.
$108,933±$14k
35% above U.S.
$111,250±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
Colebrook and Whitman 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
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$342,800±$19k
3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,333±$626Lowest
6% below U.S.
Whitman and Colebrook 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.
$5,824
87% above U.S.
$6,211Highest
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±55Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Union and Whitman 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
20% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
34 min
29% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Whitman and Union 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 — #191 of 282 in MA —
School district Union School District Whitman-Hanson Colebrook School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.