Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield 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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Wallingford has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
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 | Plainfield | Middletown | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
15,141Lowest |
47,958 |
44,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
42.6±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$104,773±$5kHighest 9% above CT |
| Wallingford and Hamden 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$353,100±$8kHighest 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,374±$84 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$5,963 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%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 |
1971 4 yrs newer 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 |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Middletown 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 | #131 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 | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Middletown High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
10.5 |
| 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.