Compare towns
Hamden vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Norwalk
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Putnam | Thompson | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
7,120Lowest |
9,337 |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Thompson School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 7.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.