Compare towns
Hamden vs Orange vs Windsor Locks 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 most renters (37.6% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
14,315 |
12,579Lowest |
24,336 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
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%±3.4 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% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,720±$127 16% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% 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 |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Windsor Locks School District | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.