Compare towns
Hamden vs Durham vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
7,208Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Durham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
23 minHighest 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 13 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.