What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k median).

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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	Walpole
People
Population	31,800Highest	26,388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±2.4Lowest about the U.S. average	40.9±1.2Highest 5% above U.S.
	Walpole 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%	25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole 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%	67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Naugatuck and Walpole 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.	$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,100±$13kLowest 22% below U.S.	$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$58Lowest 3% below U.S.	$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Lowest 104% above U.S.	$8,523Highest 173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.2%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naugatuck and Walpole 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%	3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#116 of 149 in CT	#107 of 282 in MA
School district	Naugatuck School District	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town	Naugatuck High School	Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	11.3Lowest
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.