Compare towns
Hamden vs Putnam vs Plainfield 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
Hamden has the highest household income ($98k).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
9,292Lowest |
15,141 |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Plainfield 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Hamden 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 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±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
| Hamden and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and New 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
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.