Compare towns
Prospect vs Bethlehem vs Waterbury
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%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Waterbury has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Bethlehem | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
3,423Lowest |
114,869Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37.8±1.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Waterbury 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
17.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Waterbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$51,886±$2kLowest 46% below CT |
| Prospect and Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$208,500±$6kLowest 43% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,225±$38 18% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±4.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
24.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Prospect 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #144 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Crosby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.0 |
| 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.