Compare towns
Bethany vs Reading vs Beacon Falls vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Bethany | Reading | Beacon Falls | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
25,612 |
6,147 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 9% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.8±2.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Beacon Falls and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Naugatuck and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42k 26% above U.S. |
$96,324±$9kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Bethany and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 26% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$259,100±$13kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
$1,369±$58Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Reading and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 167% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% above U.S. |
$6,362Lowest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.2%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Beacon Falls 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #77 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Reading | Regional School District 16 | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Woodland Regional High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.