Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hamden vs Norwalk vs Windham
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 homeowners (82.9%).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Chaplin | Hamden | Norwalk | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
61,045 |
92,187Highest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Norwalk 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% CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | Brien McMahon High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5 |
14.7Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.