What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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	Sutton
People
Population	61,045Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Hamden 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%	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kLowest 22% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$298,200±$9kLowest 10% below U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S.	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 150% above U.S.	$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hamden and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#122 of 149 in CT	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Sutton
High school in town	Hamden High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.6Lowest
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.