Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainville vs Bethany 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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Plainville | Bethany | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
17,551 |
5,288Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Plainville and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Norwalk 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.4Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.