Compare towns

Durham vs Hamden vs Windham

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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureDurhamHamdenWindham
People
Population
7,208Lowest
61,045Highest
23,961
Median age
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
38.7±0.9
6% below CT
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±2.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
Windham 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%±1.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Hamden and Durham 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%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windham and Hamden 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
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$298,200±$9k
19% below CT
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$7,784
17% above CT
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±28.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windham 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%
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%
CT: 66.5%
47.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
24 minHighest
8% below CT
Work from home
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
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 #143 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Coginchaug Regional High School Hamden High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
13.5Highest
9.8
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.