Compare towns
Union vs Sterling vs Colebrook
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Sterling | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
3,629Highest |
1,494 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Colebrook 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook 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±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
| Colebrook and Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Union School District | Sterling School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.