Compare towns
Hamden vs Middletown vs Prospect
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
47,958 |
9,458Lowest |
| 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 |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Hamden 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,412Lowest 3% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Middletown 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 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 |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Middletown 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 | #50 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 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Middletown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.