What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naugatuck has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.1%).

Southwick has the most expensive homes ($398k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Naugatuck	Southwick
People
Population	31,800Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±2.4Lowest about the U.S. average	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Naugatuck and Southwick 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%	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southwick and Naugatuck 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%	35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Naugatuck and Southwick 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.	$120,462±$16kHighest 49% above U.S.
	Southwick and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,100±$13kLowest 22% below U.S.	$397,500±$27kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$58Highest 3% below U.S.	$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Naugatuck and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Highest 104% above U.S.	$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.2%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Southwick 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%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Naugatuck School District	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Naugatuck High School	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.