Compare towns
Hamden vs Madison vs Plainfield
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).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Madison | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,616 |
15,141Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Madison 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Madison School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.