Compare towns
Prospect vs Hamden vs Naugatuck vs Harwinton
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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Hamden | Naugatuck | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
61,045Highest |
31,800 |
5,575Lowest |
| 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 |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Harwinton 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% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
32.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% 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% |
6.7%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$96,324±$9kLowest about the CT average |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
| Harwinton 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±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Prospect and Harwinton 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 |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,369±$58Lowest 8% below CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| 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 |
$6,362 4% below CT |
$5,503Lowest 17% 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%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest 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% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 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 | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Naugatuck School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Naugatuck High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.