Compare towns
Hamden vs Middletown vs Orange vs Wallingford
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).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Middletown | Orange | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
47,958 |
14,315Lowest |
44,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
| Orange and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Wallingford 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Wallingford 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% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 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±$7k about the CT average |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,963Lowest 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Orange 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Middletown High School | None in town | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.