Compare towns
Vernon vs Union vs Plainfield vs West Haven
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 people working from home (13.4%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
West Haven 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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
944Lowest |
15,141 |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% 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% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven 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% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Union and Vernon 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±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
| West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above 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% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest 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 |
1959Lowest 8 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 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Vernon and Plainfield 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 | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Union School District | Plainfield School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.