Compare towns

Naugatuck vs Hamden vs Bristol

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 most people working from home (16.3%).
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.

MeasureNaugatuckHamdenBristol
People
Population
31,800Lowest
61,045
61,462Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
+0.6%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
39.8±2.4Highest
3% below CT
38.7±0.9
6% below CT
37.9±1.5Lowest
8% below CT
Naugatuck and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
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%
18.1%±1.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±1.2
CT: 18.5%
Hamden and Bristol 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%
47.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.8%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±0.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,324±$9k
about the CT average
$98,306±$7kHighest
about the CT average
$79,076±$6kLowest
17% below CT
Hamden 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±$13kLowest
29% below CT
$298,200±$9kHighest
19% below CT
$277,800±$8k
24% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$58
8% below CT
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,338±$45Lowest
10% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,362
4% below CT
$7,784Highest
17% above CT
$5,449Lowest
18% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.2%±9.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4
CT: 52.6%
55.5%±5.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
Bristol and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
9.3%
CT: 10%
10.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
64.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1967
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
24 min
11% below CT
Work from home
15%±2.8
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
11.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Hamden 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 #122 of 149 in CT #115 of 149 in CT
School district Naugatuck School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Bristol School District
High school in town Naugatuck High School Hamden High School Bristol Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
13.5Lowest
14.0
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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.