Compare towns
Hamden vs Norwalk vs Orange
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 affordable homes ($298k median).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
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 | Norwalk | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
92,187Highest |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Norwalk 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% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Norwalk School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.