What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the highest household income ($98k).

Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamden	Derby
People
Population	61,045Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT
Kids under 18	17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2%	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Hamden and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%
	Derby 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%	35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average	$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT	$1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 17% above CT	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest CT: 10%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Derby School District
High school in town	Hamden High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.