Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect vs Willimantic vs North Haven
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%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
North Haven has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Willimantic | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
9,458Lowest |
18,096 |
24,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.7±1.3 11% above CT |
| Prospect and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Prospect 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and North Haven 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| North Haven and Prospect 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,720±$127 16% 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,964 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and North Haven 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 | — | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | — | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | — | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 11.0Lowest |
| 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.