Compare towns
Durham vs Hamden vs Plainville vs Hebron
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).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Plainville | Hebron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,551 |
9,157 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
| Durham and Hebron 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Hebron 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Hebron 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
52.7%Highest 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% |
5.9%±2.1 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 |
$142,500±$23k 49% above CT |
| Durham and Hebron 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$385,800±$15k 5% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,635±$241 10% above CT |
| Hamden and Hebron 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,263Highest 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Hebron 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #28 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 | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | RHAM High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
9.3 |
| 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.