Compare towns
Hamden vs Chaplin 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).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Chaplin | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
2,070Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin 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 |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Parish Hill High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
7.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.