What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).

Norwich has the most kids (20.9% 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	Norwich
People
Population	61,045Highest	39,973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% CT: +0.9%
Median age	38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT
	Hamden and Norwich 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%	20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%	16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Hamden and Norwich 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%	23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT	$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT	$1,253±$68Lowest 16% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 17% above CT	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwich and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest CT: 10%	16.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	24 minHighest 9% below CT
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#122 of 149 in CT	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	Hamden High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	14.8Highest
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.