Compare towns
Danielson vs Hamden vs Putnam vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Willington has the most homeowners (64%).
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 | Danielson | Hamden | Putnam | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
61,045Highest |
9,292 |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Danielson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
| Hamden and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$305,800±$48kHighest 17% below CT |
| Willington and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 40% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
13% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
64%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Willington 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Putnam School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | — | Hamden High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.