Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield vs Norwalk vs Bethany
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Norwalk | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
15,141 |
92,187Highest |
5,288Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
| Bethany and Norwalk 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Norwalk School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.