Compare towns
Hamden vs Orange vs New Haven
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 people working from home (16.3%).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
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 | Orange | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
14,315Lowest |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,488±$33Lowest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,430Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6Lowest 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #145 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 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| 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.