Compare towns

Willimantic vs Chaplin vs Union

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).

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.

MeasureWillimanticChaplinUnion
People
Population
18,096Highest
2,070
944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±2.6Highest
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+
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
25.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2
CT: 7.1%
5%±3.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$255,200±$24k
30% below CT
$330,400±$26kHighest
10% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678
30% below CT
$4,524Lowest
32% below CT
$4,793Highest
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
Union and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
12% below CT
32 minHighest
22% above CT
32 min
20% above CT
Work from home
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.7
CT: 16%
Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Union School District
High school in town — Parish Hill High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.5
—
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.