Compare towns
Hamden vs Redding vs Plainfield 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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% 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 | Redding | Plainfield | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
8,780Lowest |
15,141 |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Redding 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,073±$87 39% above CT |
| Redding and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Norwalk 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% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Plainfield School District | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Joel Barlow High School | Plainfield High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
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.