Compare towns
Hamden vs Durham vs Putnam vs Middletown
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).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Putnam | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
7,208Lowest |
9,292 |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Durham and Putnam 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% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
11.8 |
| 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.