Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect vs Union
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 highest household income ($126k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
9,458 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Prospect 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Prospect and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above 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 |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Union School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.