Compare towns
Ashford vs Plainfield vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Ashford | Plainfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
15,141Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Ashford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Plainfield 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Plainfield School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.