Compare towns

Prospect vs Reading vs Naugatuck

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 most homeowners (93.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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.

MeasureProspectReadingNaugatuck
People
Population
9,458Lowest
25,612
31,800Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
20% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
39.8±2.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
Prospect and Reading 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%
19.9%±2.3Lowest
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%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.6%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Prospect and Reading 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%
32.2%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%
7.8%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18k
57% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$96,324±$9kLowest
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21k
7% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$259,100±$13kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433
27% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,369±$58Lowest
3% 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.
$6,362Lowest
104% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.2%±9.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Prospect and Naugatuck 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%
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #50 of 149 in CT #50 of 282 in MA #116 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Reading Naugatuck School District
High school in town None in town Reading Memorial High Naugatuck High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
15.2Highest
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.