Compare towns
Prospect vs Beacon Falls vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k 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.
| Measure | Prospect | Beacon Falls | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
6,147Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
44.9±1.4Lowest 9% 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 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below 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 | $6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Cheshire 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 16 | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.