Compare towns
Prospect vs Union vs Chaplin 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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Union | Chaplin | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
114,869Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37.8±1.3Lowest 8% 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%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
17.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Waterbury 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 |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$51,886±$2kLowest 46% below CT |
| Prospect and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$208,500±$6kLowest 43% below CT |
| Prospect and Union 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 |
— | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,225±$38Lowest 18% below CT |
| Prospect and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±4.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Waterbury 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
24.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
47.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Prospect 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 | — | — | #144 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Crosby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5Lowest |
17.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 2 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.