Compare towns
Hamden vs Orange vs Middletown vs Wallingford
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Middletown | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
14,315Lowest |
47,958 |
44,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
| Orange and Wallingford 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Wallingford 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Wallingford 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% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden 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 |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$5,963Lowest 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Lowest 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Middletown High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.8 |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.