Compare towns
Vernon vs Union vs Plainfield vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Manchester has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Vernon | Union | Plainfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
944Lowest |
15,141 |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Union and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Manchester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Manchester and Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Union School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.