Compare towns
Hamden vs Preston 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 affordable homes ($298k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Preston | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
4,821Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Preston and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Preston and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Norwalk 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Preston School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.