Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Putnam vs Plainfield 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.
| Measure | Beacon Falls | Putnam | Plainfield | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
9,292 |
15,141 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Naugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Putnam 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 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±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Beacon Falls and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Naugatuck 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
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.