Compare towns
Hamden vs Ridgefield 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 affordable homes ($298k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
North Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Ridgefield | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
25,109 |
24,336Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| North Haven and Ridgefield 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% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$132,689±$7k 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$1,720±$127Lowest 16% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,964Lowest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Hamden 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% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Ridgefield School District | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Ridgefield High School | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.