Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Plainfield vs Prospect vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Naugatuck has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Beacon Falls | Plainfield | Prospect | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
15,141 |
9,458 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Prospect and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
| Prospect and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Naugatuck 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 16 | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
| 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.