Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs Plainville 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 highest household income ($98k).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Killingly | Plainville | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,867 |
17,551Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 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±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Hamden and Killingly 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown 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±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Middletown 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #121 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 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
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.