Compare towns
Hamden vs Durham 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).
Durham has the most homeowners (93.2%).
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 | Durham | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
7,208Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 13 | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
8.9Lowest |
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.