Compare towns
Norwich 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
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
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 | Norwich | Union | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
944Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1% CT: 42.5% |
24%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% 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 | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703 29% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Union 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Union School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 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.