Compare towns
New Haven 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
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | New Haven | Plainfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 134,349Highest |
15,141 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
| Union and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,488±$33Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,430Highest 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| New Haven 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 | #145 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Plainfield School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Wilbur Cross High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
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.