Compare towns
Hampton vs Columbia 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
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Hampton | Columbia | Plainfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
5,300 |
15,141Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 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 | $109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Columbia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% 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 | $1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— |
| Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 34% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Columbia School District | Plainfield School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.