Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Norwalk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% 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 | Killingly | Lancaster | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
17,867 |
8,606Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.6±1 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k 22% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$107,616±$7k 33% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 10% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$558,000±$21kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Norwalk and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 24% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,073±$87 47% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 150% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,817Highest 151% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±1.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.