What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andes has the most people working from home (21.5%).

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($227k median).

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	Andes	Hamden
People
Population	1,129Lowest	1,245Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-14.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.1±5.8Highest 38% above NY	51±7.5Lowest 28% above NY
	Andes and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.5%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	13.7%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hamden and Andes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.1%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±9.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Andes and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	31.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±0.9Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Andes and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,000±$29kHighest 13% below NY	$64,457±$14kLowest 25% below NY
	Andes and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,400±$36kHighest 30% below NY	$226,500±$16kLowest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$967±$742Highest 40% below NY	$934±$68Lowest 42% below NY
	Andes and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,754Highest 43% below NY	$3,416Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	46.8%±37.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Andes and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest NY: 14%	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	24 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	21.5%±5.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.