Compare towns
Hamden vs Bolton vs Plainfield vs Middletown
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Bolton has the highest household income ($126k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Bolton | Plainfield | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
4,853Lowest |
15,141 |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest 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 |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Bolton 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 | #79 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Bolton School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Bolton High School | Plainfield High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.4Lowest |
10.3 |
11.8 |
| 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.