Compare towns
Hamden vs Killingly vs Ridgefield
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).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
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 | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,867Lowest |
25,109 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Ridgefield 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% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Hamden 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% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #4 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 | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.