Compare towns
Union vs Suffield vs Plainville 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 most homeowners (92.9%).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Colebrook has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Plainville | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
15,702 |
17,551Highest |
1,494 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above 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%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Union 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Colebrook 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Union School District | Suffield School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.