Town · Connecticut
Prospect, Connecticut
Prospect, town, in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Prospect had 9,638 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,401 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,458 (±36). GEOID 0914062290.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,638
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,401 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,458 ±36
Median household income
$126,394
±$17,555 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$355,400
±$21,192 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,800
±$433 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Prospect and what county is it in?
Prospect is a town in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 14.2 square miles of land, 662 residents per square mile in 2020.
Prospect is in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Prospect, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,638 people lived in Prospect on July 1, 2025, up 2.9% since 2020, faster than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 9,401 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,458 (±36).
| Measure | Prospect | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,458±36 | 454,969 | – |
| Households | 3,529±210 | 180,116 | – |
| Average household size | 2.66±0.16 | 2.49 | – |
| Housing units | 3,703±208 | 192,551 | – |
Prospect's population since 2000
From 8,707 in 2000 to 9,638 in 2025: up 10.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Prospect as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Prospect?
The median resident of Prospect is 46.8 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 24.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.4%. 8.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Prospect | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 | 41.8 | – |
| Under 18 years | 21.4%±2.8 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.5%±3.2 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 47.9%±3.5 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.0%±3.7 pts | 19.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.1%±7.1 pts | 59.8% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.4%±4.9 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.5 pts | 3.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9%±3.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.3%±3.1 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.0%±4.6 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.9%±2.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 10.4%±4.2 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1%±2.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.3%±2.2 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.3%±6.2 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.9%±4.9 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.1%±3.5 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Prospect earn?
Half of Prospect's 3,529 households earn less than $126,394 a year (±$17,555), against $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. 3.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Prospect | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $126,394±$17,555 | $86,191 | – |
| Mean household income | $150,184±$17,483 | $114,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $56,503±$6,891 | $46,363 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 3.2%±2.1 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.8%±3.7 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.8%±2.3 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.7%±1.3 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.7%±3.1 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Prospect?
Owners occupy 93.5% of Prospect's occupied homes and renters 6.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $355,400 by its owner (±$21,192). The median renter pays $1,800 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Prospect | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $355,400±$21,192 | $317,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,800±$433 | $1,330 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 14.2%±23.8 pts | 44.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,465±$148 | $2,229 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 93.5%±3.6 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 6.5%±3.6 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 3,703±208 | 192,551 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.3%±4.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±16.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 84.5%±5.1 pts | 59.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.3%±4.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.8%±3.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.5%±5.6 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.3%±1.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Prospect building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Prospect in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Prospect work and get to work?
85.1% of Prospect's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.5 minutes.
| Measure | Prospect | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.3%±4.8 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3%±2.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 85.1%±4.6 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.8%±3.1 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6%±0.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.1%±3.5 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.5 min±3.0 | 28.3 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Prospect?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Prospect (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $112,078 (Tract 3471) to $146,250 (Tract 3472).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3471Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,790 | $112,078 |
| Tract 3472Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 3,668 | $146,250 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Prospect) · Census block assignment files
How does Prospect compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Prospect is the 1,272nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 73rd-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Prospect ranks 97th of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 73rd | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 51st | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 179th | 303 |
| Median household income | 97th | 294 |
| Per capita income | 160th | 303 |
| Median home value | 172nd | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 73rd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 181st | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 191st | 297 |
| Median age | 106th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 21st | 300 |
| Work from home | 237th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 149th | 302 |
Prospect's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Prospect with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Prospect?
18 of the 57 figures for Prospect on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Prospect are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.