Compare towns
Durham vs Hamden vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Durham and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Hamden High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.