Compare towns

Union vs Chaplin 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 most expensive homes ($330k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureUnionChaplinPlainfield
People
Population
944Lowest
2,070
15,141Highest
Median age
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Union 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%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Union and Chaplin 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%
25.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±3.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Plainfield 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
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Chaplin 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±$26kHighest
10% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,204±$70Lowest
19% below CT
Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,793Highest
28% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Union and Plainfield 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%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above CT
32 minHighest
22% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Chaplin 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
School district Union School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Parish Hill High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.5Lowest
10.3Highest
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.