What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

Hamden has the highest household income ($98k).

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	Derby	Hamden
People
Population	12,487Lowest	61,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%	17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2%
	Hamden and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%	18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Derby and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT	$7,784Highest 17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest CT: 10%	9.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	22 minLowest 18% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	Derby High School	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.