Compare towns
Hamden vs Putnam vs Torrington vs Middletown
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 most kids (18.6% under 18).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Torrington | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
9,292Lowest |
35,547 |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Putnam and Torrington 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Torrington 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington and Putnam 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden 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±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$70,856±$5k 26% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Middletown 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 |
$1,169±$43 21% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
66.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Middletown 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Putnam High School | Torrington High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.9 |
11.8 |
| 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.