Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs New Haven vs Thompson
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 people working from home (16.3%).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | New Haven | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
17,867 |
134,349Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and New Haven 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT | #130 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 | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Wilbur Cross High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.1 |
13.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.