Compare towns
Hamden vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Norwalk
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).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Hamden | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
| Norwalk 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.