Compare towns
Union vs Wilbraham 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).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Wilbraham | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
14,572Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Wilbraham 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham 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±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Wilbraham 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. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 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% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Wilbraham 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.