Compare towns
Union vs Plainfield vs Ashford vs Hampton
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Plainfield | Ashford | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,226 |
1,647 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% 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 | — | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
| Hampton and Ashford 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Union School District | Plainfield School District | Ashford School District | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | 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.