Compare towns
Prospect vs Reading vs East Haddam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
East Haddam has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Reading | East Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
25,612Highest |
8,969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 20% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50±2.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| East Haddam 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Haddam and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| East Haddam and Prospect 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 57% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$107,861±$9kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$352,700±$24kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433 27% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,242±$331Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Reading and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 109% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,724Lowest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Prospect and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #68 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Reading | East Haddam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Nathan Hale-Ray High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.