Compare towns
Hamden vs Middletown vs Windsor Locks vs North Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Windsor Locks | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
47,958 |
12,579Lowest |
24,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Windsor Locks 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% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±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±$7k about the CT average |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,720±$127 16% above CT |
| Hamden and North Haven 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 |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,964 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #84 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 | Windsor Locks School District | — |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Middletown High School | Windsor Locks High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.