Compare towns

Prospect vs Hamden vs Naugatuck

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%).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.

MeasureProspectHamdenNaugatuck
People
Population
9,458Lowest
61,045Highest
31,800
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-1.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
39.8±2.4
3% below CT
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.9%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Naugatuck 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%
18.1%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
15.6%±2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
47.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
32.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
7.8%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$98,306±$7k
about the CT average
$96,324±$9kLowest
about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$298,200±$9k
19% below CT
$259,100±$13kLowest
29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,746±$50
17% above CT
$1,369±$58Lowest
8% below CT
Prospect and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504
about the CT average
$7,784Highest
17% above CT
$6,362Lowest
4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.2%±9.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Hamden and Prospect 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%
9.3%Highest
CT: 10%
6.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
67.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
33 minHighest
26% above CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Lowest
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
15%±2.8
CT: 16%
Hamden 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 #50 of 149 in CT #122 of 149 in CT #116 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Naugatuck School District
High school in town None in town Hamden High School Naugatuck High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Lowest
15.2Highest
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.