What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the highest household income ($152k).

Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).

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	Durham	Hamden
People
Population	3,347Lowest	61,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+28.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	47.9±5.4Highest 17% above CT	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2%
	Hamden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5%	18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Durham and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1%	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT	$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT	$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$1kLowest 9% above CT	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT
	Hamden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,107Lowest 7% above CT	$7,784Highest 17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6%	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Durham and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Lowest CT: 10%	9.3%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest CT: 66.5%	62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below CT	22 minLowest 18% below CT
Work from home	20%±6.7Highest CT: 16%	16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16%
	Durham 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	#88 of 149 in CT	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	—	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
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.