Compare towns
Hamden vs Norwalk vs Windham vs Middletown
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 homeowners (62.4%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Hamden | Norwalk | Windham | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
92,187Highest |
23,961Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Norwalk 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Windham 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 |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
9.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Norwalk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Brien McMahon High School | Windham High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.