What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamden	Smithfield
People
Population	61,045Highest	22,233Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hamden and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Smithfield 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±$7kLowest 22% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Smithfield 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±$9kLowest 10% below U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 150% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hamden and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Smithfield
High school in town	Hamden High School	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.