Compare towns

Durham vs Hamden vs Durham

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).
Durham has the oldest population (median age 47.9).

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.

MeasureDurhamHamdenDurham
People
Population
7,208
61,045Highest
3,347Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+28.6%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.5±2.8
11% above CT
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
47.9±5.4Highest
17% above CT
Durham and Durham 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%±1.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
15%±4.6Lowest
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+
17.4%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
19.1%±4.5Highest
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+
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
47.8%
CT: 42.5%
42.4%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$98,306±$7kLowest
about the CT average
$152,396±$32k
59% above CT
Durham and Durham 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±$9kLowest
19% below CT
$401,700±$32k
9% above CT
Durham and Durham 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
$1,625±$1k
9% 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
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$7,784
17% above CT
$7,107Lowest
7% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±28.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4
CT: 52.6%
57.7%±35Highest
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
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
9.3%Highest
CT: 10%
6.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1975
8 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
24 minHighest
10% below CT
Work from home
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Lowest
CT: 16%
20%±6.7
CT: 16%
Durham 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 #88 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services —
High school in town Coginchaug Regional High School Hamden High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
13.5Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.