Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Prospect | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
9,458Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Prospect 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Norwalk and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | 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.