Compare towns
Hamden vs Union vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Hamden | Union | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
944Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Union and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Union School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.