Compare towns
Hamden vs New Haven vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | New Haven | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
134,349Highest |
15,702Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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% |
38.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and New Haven 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 |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,430Lowest 3% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #145 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Wilbur Cross High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.7Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.