Compare towns
Plainfield vs Thomaston vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Plainfield | Thomaston | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
7,492 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Thomaston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Thomaston School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.