Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hamden vs Norwalk vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Hamden | Norwalk | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
61,045 |
92,187Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Norwalk and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Norwalk School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5 |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.