Compare towns
Union vs Orange vs Plainfield vs Scotland
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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Orange | Plainfield | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
14,315 |
15,141Highest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.7±5 9% above CT |
| Union and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Plainfield 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
33.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Scotland 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$99,881±$12k 4% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$294,100±$20k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,188±$468Lowest 20% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,175 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±75.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
33 minHighest 24% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.5%±6.2 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Scotland 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Union School District | — | Plainfield School District | Scotland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.