Compare towns

Naugatuck vs Hamden vs Prospect

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).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).

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.

MeasureNaugatuckHamdenProspect
People
Population
31,800
61,045Highest
9,458Lowest
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
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
Kids under 18
19.9%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
Prospect 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%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
47.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.8%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,324±$9kLowest
about the CT average
$98,306±$7k
about the CT average
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$259,100±$13kLowest
29% below CT
$298,200±$9k
19% below CT
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$58Lowest
8% below CT
$1,746±$50
17% above CT
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
Prospect 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
$6,504
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%
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
Hamden and Prospect 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%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
28 min
4% above CT
Work from home
15%±2.8
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
10.1%±3.2Lowest
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 #50 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 None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
13.5Lowest
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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.