Compare towns
Union vs Preston vs Plainville
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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% 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 | Preston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
4,821 |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Union and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston 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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Preston 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Preston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville and Preston 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.