Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect vs Suffield vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% 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 | Suffield | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
9,458Lowest |
15,702 |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below 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% |
21.3%±1 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and New Haven 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
38.9%Lowest 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% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and New Haven 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,430Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 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 | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Suffield School District | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Suffield High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 10.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.