Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect vs Norwalk 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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Prospect | Norwalk | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
9,458Lowest |
92,187Highest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 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 |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$6,412Lowest 3% below 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% |
47.7%±5.3 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% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Norwalk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 14.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.