Compare towns

Naugatuck vs Prospect vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.

MeasureNaugatuckProspectReading
People
Population
31,800Highest
9,458Lowest
25,612
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.8±2.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±3.9Highest
20% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
Prospect and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Prospect and Reading 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
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.8%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,324±$9kLowest
19% above U.S.
$126,394±$18k
57% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$259,100±$13kLowest
22% below U.S.
$355,400±$21k
7% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$58Lowest
3% below U.S.
$1,800±$433
27% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
Reading and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,362Lowest
104% above U.S.
$6,504
109% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.2%±9.4
U.S.: 51.1%
45.3%±31.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Prospect and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
15%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #116 of 149 in CT #50 of 149 in CT #50 of 282 in MA
School district Naugatuck School District Regional School District 16 Reading
High school in town Naugatuck High School None in town Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
—
12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.