Compare towns
Hamden vs Middletown vs Thompson
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 kids (17% under 18).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
47,958 |
9,337Lowest |
| 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 |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hamden and Middletown 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 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 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Middletown High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.