What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has the most kids (18% under 18).

Hamden has the most people working from home (9.4%).

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	Colchester	Hamden
People
Population	1,713Highest	1,245Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-14.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.2±7Lowest 24% above NY	51±7.5Highest 28% above NY
	Hamden and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	13.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±9.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hamden and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,222±$15kHighest 22% below NY	$64,457±$14kLowest 25% below NY
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,500±$80kHighest 43% below NY	$226,500±$16kLowest 47% below NY
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$332Highest 29% below NY	$934±$68Lowest 42% below NY
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,915Lowest 71% below NY	$3,416Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±27.9Highest NY: 52.1%	46.8%±37.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest NY: 14%	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	2.4%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.4%±3.4Highest 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.