What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Naugatuck has the most kids (19.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamden	Naugatuck
People
Population	61,045Highest	31,800Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-1.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT	39.8±2.4Highest 3% below CT
	Naugatuck and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2%	19.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2%
	Naugatuck and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Hamden and Naugatuck 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%	32.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	7.8%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average	$96,324±$9kLowest about the CT average
	Hamden and Naugatuck 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	$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT	$1,369±$58Lowest 8% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 17% above CT	$6,362Lowest 4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6%	42.2%±9.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Hamden and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest CT: 10%	6.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	33 minHighest 26% above CT
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%	15%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Naugatuck 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	#116 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Naugatuck School District
High school in town	Hamden High School	Naugatuck High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.