Compare towns
Prospect vs Union vs Bethany 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Naugatuck has the most renters (32.2% 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 | Union | Bethany | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
944Lowest |
5,288 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
39.8±2.4Lowest 3% below CT |
| Union and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck and Bethany 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 32% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
| Bethany and Prospect 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 |
— | — | $1,369±$58Lowest 8% below CT |
| Prospect and Naugatuck 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 |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Naugatuck and Bethany 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 | — | #30 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Union School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.2 |
| 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.