Compare towns
Union vs Mansfield vs Stafford
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%).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
25,358Highest |
11,511 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Union and Stafford 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$93,235±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Stafford 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 |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Mansfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.