Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Prospect vs Reading vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 39.8).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Prospect | Reading | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,800Highest |
9,458Lowest |
25,612 |
17,551 |
| 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. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Prospect and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.8 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Naugatuck and Plainville 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 19% above U.S. |
$126,394±$18k 57% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,100±$13k 22% below U.S. |
$355,400±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58 3% below U.S. |
$1,800±$433 27% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below 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 | $6,362 104% above U.S. |
$6,504 109% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% 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% |
40.3%±12.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below 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% |
10.7%±2 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | Regional School District 16 | Reading | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
— | 12.1 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.