Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainville vs Plainfield
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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,551 |
15,141Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Hamden 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Plainville 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.