Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Chester | Plainfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
15,141Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest 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 | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chester 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.