Compare towns
Hamden vs Bloomfield vs Middletown vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the most expensive homes ($298k median).
Bloomfield has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
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 | Hamden | Bloomfield | Middletown | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
21,754Lowest |
47,958 |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
38.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$98,725±$14kHighest 3% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$286,900±$11kLowest 22% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Bloomfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,795Lowest 13% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #139 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Middletown High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.1Lowest |
11.8 |
13.7Highest |
| 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.