What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Naugatuck has the most people working from home (15%).

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	Plainfield	Naugatuck
People
Population	15,141Lowest	31,800Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-1.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT	39.8±2.4Highest 3% below CT
	Naugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2%
	Naugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Plainfield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest CT: 42.5%	32.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1%
	Naugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT	$96,324±$9kHighest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT	$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT
	Plainfield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT	$1,369±$58Highest 8% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 37% below CT	$6,362Highest 4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6%	42.2%±9.4Highest CT: 52.6%
	Naugatuck and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest CT: 10%	6.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	67.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 4 yrs newer than CT	1971 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	33 minHighest 26% above CT
Work from home	10%±4Lowest CT: 16%	15%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Naugatuck and Plainfield 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	#131 of 149 in CT	#116 of 149 in CT
School district	Plainfield School District	Naugatuck School District
High school in town	Plainfield High School	Naugatuck High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.