Compare towns
Prospect vs Windham vs Willimantic 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 most homeowners (93.5%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Naugatuck has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Windham | Willimantic | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458Lowest |
23,961 |
18,096 |
31,800Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Willimantic 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% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham 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 |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,369±$58 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 | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic 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% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Naugatuck 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 | #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.