Compare towns
Durham vs Hamden vs Union
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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Hamden | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
61,045Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Hamden and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Union School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.