Compare towns
Hamden vs Stepney vs Manchester vs Wallingford
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 people working from home (16.3%).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k 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.
| Measure | Hamden | Stepney | Manchester | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
3,979Lowest |
59,635 |
44,362 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
| Stepney and Wallingford 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% |
21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Manchester 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
| Stepney and Hamden 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 |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$5,963 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney 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% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Manchester 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 | — | #135 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Manchester High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.