Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect vs Suffield
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 renters (37.6% rent).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
9,458Lowest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Prospect and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Suffield 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% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Prospect and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
| Prospect and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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 | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.