Compare towns
Columbia vs Union vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Columbia | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Columbia and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Chaplin 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.