Compare towns
Hamden vs Manchester vs Suffield vs Norwalk
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).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Manchester | Suffield | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
59,635 |
15,702Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Norwalk 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% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Suffield and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Suffield School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Manchester High School | Suffield High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
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.