Compare towns

Naugatuck vs Windham vs Prospect vs Beacon Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).

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.

MeasureNaugatuckWindhamProspectBeacon Falls
People
Population
31,800Highest
23,961
9,458
6,147Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.1%
CT: +0.9%
— — —
Median age
39.8±2.4
3% below CT
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
46.8±3.9
14% above CT
48.4±3.8Highest
18% above CT
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
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
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%
CT: 42.5%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.8%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,324±$9k
about the CT average
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$101,516±$42k
6% above CT
Prospect and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$259,100±$13k
29% below CT
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$350,300±$34k
5% below CT
Prospect and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$58
8% below CT
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
$1,800±$433
21% above CT
$1,921±$286Highest
29% above CT
Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,362
4% below CT
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$6,504
about the CT average
$6,534Highest
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.2%±9.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
Windham and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
CT: 10%
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
3.2%
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
CT: 66.5%
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
85.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1974
7 yrs newer than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above CT
24 minLowest
8% below CT
28 min
4% above CT
33 min
23% above CT
Work from home
15%±2.8
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls 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 #143 of 149 in CT #50 of 149 in CT #77 of 149 in CT
School district Naugatuck School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Regional School District 16 Regional School District 16
High school in town Naugatuck High School Windham High School None in town Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
9.8Lowest
—
11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.