Compare towns
Hamden vs Madison vs Killingly vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% 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 | Madison | Killingly | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
17,616Lowest |
17,867 |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest 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% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 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±$7k about the CT average |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Madison and Hamden 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 |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven 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% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Daniel Hand High School | Killingly High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
13.7Highest |
| 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.