Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainville vs North Haven
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,551Lowest |
24,336 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| North Haven and Plainville 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% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,720±$127 16% above CT |
| Hamden and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,964 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and North Haven 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% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and North Haven 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 | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.