Compare towns
Union vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Colebrook
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 homeowners (92.9%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Derby | Plainfield | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
12,487 |
15,141Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook and Union 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Union 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% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Derby and Colebrook 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 |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Union School District | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.