What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterford has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

Niantic has the most people working from home (20.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waterford	Niantic
People
Population	19,673Highest	3,123Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.6% CT: +0.9%
Median age	46±2.4Lowest 12% above CT	58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2%	14.4%±5.1Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	48.2%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1%	3.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT	$81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT
	Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,900±$14kLowest about the CT average	$396,000±$38kHighest 8% above CT
	Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT	$1,478±$259Lowest about the CT average
	Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,876Lowest 27% below CT	$6,311Highest 5% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.4%±12Lowest CT: 52.6%	58.1%±20.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest CT: 10%	3.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT	1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16%	20.8%±12.3Highest CT: 16%
	Niantic and Waterford 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	#80 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Learn · Waterford School District	—
High school in town	Waterford High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.