Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Chaplin vs Putnam vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naugatuck has the youngest population (median age 39.8).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most expensive homes ($350k 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 | Naugatuck | Chaplin | Putnam | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,800Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 39.8±2.4Lowest 3% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Naugatuck and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,324±$9k about the CT average |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58 8% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 4% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Highest 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 | 6.3% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin 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 | #116 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
11.2 |
| 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.