Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainville vs Redding vs Middletown
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Redding | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,551 |
8,780Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Redding 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%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | Joel Barlow High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.