Compare towns
Hamden vs Colebrook vs Pomfret 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 most affordable homes ($298k median).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Pomfret | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
1,494Lowest |
4,317 |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Colebrook and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Norwalk 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Colebrook and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Norwalk 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 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 | — | #39 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Colebrook School District | Pomfret School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | None in town | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | — | 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.