Compare towns
Prospect vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($126k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Waterbury has the most renters (52.8% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Lowest |
15,141 |
114,869Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.8±1.3 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
17.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Waterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$51,886±$2kLowest 46% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$208,500±$6kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,225±$38 18% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±4.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Waterbury 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
24.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
8.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Prospect and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #144 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Crosby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
17.0Highest |
| 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.