Compare towns

Union vs Putnam vs Chaplin

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 expensive homes ($330k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

MeasureUnionPutnamChaplin
People
Population
944Lowest
9,292Highest
2,070
Median age
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
43.7±4.8Lowest
6% above CT
Union and Putnam 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%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Putnam 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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Union and Chaplin 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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin 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
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
Chaplin 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±$26kHighest
10% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,793Highest
28% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Union and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
32 minHighest
22% above CT
Work from home
9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
Chaplin and Union 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 — #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Union School District Putnam School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Putnam High School Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5Highest
7.5Lowest
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.