Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
15,141 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k 22% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 10% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 150% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.