Compare towns
Durham vs Hamden vs Chaplin vs Marlborough
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 most expensive homes ($425k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
61,045Highest |
2,070Lowest |
6,130 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Durham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% 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% |
5.1%±2.6 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 |
$142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,397 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.6% 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 |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | — | #52 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 | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Hamden High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
13.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.