Compare towns
Hamden vs Hampton vs Mansfield vs Suffield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hampton | Mansfield | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
1,647Lowest |
25,358 |
15,702 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Hampton and Suffield 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Hamden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Hampton School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.8 |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.