Compare towns
Preston 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
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Preston | Union | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
944Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Preston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% 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 | $4,749 29% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Union School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.