Compare towns
Plainfield vs Thompson vs Union vs Wauregan
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Union | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,337 |
944Lowest |
1,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Thompson and Union 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Thompson 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% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
24%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±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 | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Thompson 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±$16k 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Union and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— | $1,254±$476Highest 16% below CT |
| Wauregan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thompson 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.