What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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	Plainville	Naugatuck
People
Population	17,551Lowest	31,800Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-1.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT	39.8±2.4Lowest 3% below CT
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2%
	Naugatuck and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Plainville and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest CT: 42.5%	32.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%	7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1%
	Naugatuck and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT	$96,324±$9kHighest about the CT average
	Naugatuck and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT	$259,100±$13kHighest 29% below CT
	Naugatuck and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT	$1,369±$58Highest 8% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT	$6,362Highest 4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	42.2%±9.4Highest CT: 52.6%
	Naugatuck and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest CT: 10%	6.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.8%Highest 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	21 minLowest 20% below CT	33 minHighest 26% above CT
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16%	15%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Naugatuck and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT	#116 of 149 in CT
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Naugatuck School District
High school in town	Plainville High School	Naugatuck High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	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.