Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Hamden 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 most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most homeowners (85.5%).
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 | Hamden | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,800 |
61,045Highest |
6,147Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Naugatuck and Beacon Falls 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,324±$9kLowest about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58Lowest 8% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362Lowest 4% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.2%±9.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 15%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
13.5 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.