Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Chaplin vs Putnam vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,800 |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck 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%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% 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% |
5.9%±0.9 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±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Chaplin and Naugatuck 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 |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
| Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58 8% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362Highest 4% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| 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% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #116 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.