Compare towns

Prospect vs Sandy Hook vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% 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.

MeasureProspectSandy HookWindhamNaugatuck
People
Population
9,458Lowest
9,863
23,961
31,800Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
-1.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
43.1±3
5% above CT
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
39.8±2.4
3% below CT
Prospect and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1
CT: 20.2%
22.6%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
19.9%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Sandy Hook 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%
14.4%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
15.6%±2
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
60.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
32.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
7.8%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18k
32% above CT
$160,814±$25kHighest
68% above CT
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
$96,324±$9k
about the CT average
Sandy Hook 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±$21k
3% below CT
$501,200±$33kHighest
37% above CT
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$259,100±$13k
29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433
21% above CT
$1,866±$439Highest
25% above CT
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
$1,369±$58
8% below CT
Sandy Hook and Prospect 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$6,362
4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
52.4%±26.6
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.2%±9.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windham and Sandy Hook 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%
5.6%
CT: 10%
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
6.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%
CT: 66.5%
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
67.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
7 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
35 minHighest
33% above CT
24 minLowest
8% below CT
33 min
26% above CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
23.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
15%±2.8
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #50 of 149 in CT — #143 of 149 in CT #116 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Naugatuck School District
High school in town None in town — Windham High School Naugatuck High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8Lowest
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.