Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield vs Sterling vs Norwalk
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 youngest population (median age 37).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Sterling | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| 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 |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Sterling 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
| Norwalk and Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School |
| 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.