Compare towns
Hamden vs Orange vs Putnam vs North 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
North Haven has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Putnam | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
24,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| North Haven and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$132,689±$7k 39% above CT |
| Orange and North Haven 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,720±$127 16% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,964 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Hamden 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Putnam School District | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Putnam High School | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.0 |
| 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.