Compare towns
Durham vs Hamden vs Chaplin vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Durham | Hamden | Chaplin | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
61,045Highest |
2,070Lowest |
22,108 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,717±$128 15% above CT |
| Hamden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,744Highest 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Guilford and Durham 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 | — | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Hamden High School | Parish Hill High School | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
13.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.