Compare towns
Enfield vs Hamden vs Suffield vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Enfield | Hamden | Suffield | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,090 |
61,045Highest |
15,702Lowest |
44,362 |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9 about the CT average |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
| Suffield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Enfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Wallingford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,404±$5kLowest 6% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Suffield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,900±$7kLowest 31% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$83 6% above CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,360Lowest 19% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,963 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±6.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.5 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Suffield School District | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Enfield High School | Hamden High School | Suffield High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.5Highest |
10.9 |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.