Compare towns
Union vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Ashford
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Killingly | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Killingly 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% 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±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford and Plainfield 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Ashford 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% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.