Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Reading vs Bristol
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Bristol has the shortest commute (24 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 | Reading | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,800 |
25,612Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±2.4 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Naugatuck 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Bristol 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Naugatuck and Bristol 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. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,100±$13kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58 3% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 104% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.2%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #116 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | — | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | — | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
— | 14.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.