Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs Norwalk vs Orange
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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Norwalk | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
17,867 |
92,187Highest |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Norwalk 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%Highest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Orange 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #38 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 | Norwalk School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town |
| 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 |
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.