Compare towns
Union vs Ashford vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Union | Ashford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
4,226 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Ashford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #90 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Ashford 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.