Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Reading vs Prospect vs Beacon Falls
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 the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Prospect has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Prospect | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,800Highest |
25,612 |
9,458 |
6,147Lowest |
| 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 |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
46.8±3.9 20% above U.S. |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Prospect and Beacon Falls 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% 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% |
3.5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Naugatuck and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,324±$9kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$126,394±$18k 57% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,100±$13kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$355,400±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,800±$433 27% above U.S. |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
| Reading and Beacon Falls 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. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,504 109% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% 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% |
45.3%±31.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Beacon Falls 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | Reading | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
12.1 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.