Compare towns
Lisbon vs Plainfield vs Union vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Lisbon | Plainfield | Union | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
15,141Highest |
944Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 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 | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Preston 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Plainfield School District | Union School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | 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.