What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).

Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).

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	Norwalk
People
Population	61,045Lowest	92,187Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT	40.6±1Highest about the CT average
	Norwalk 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%	18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2%
	Norwalk 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%	17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Hamden and Norwalk 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%	44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average	$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT
	Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT	$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT	$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Lowest 17% above CT	$7,817Highest 18% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwalk and Hamden 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%	9.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT	1967Highest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Norwalk 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	#112 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Norwalk School District
High school in town	Hamden High School	Brien McMahon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	14.7Highest
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.