What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most kids (17% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	61,045Highest	9,337Lowest
Median age	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average
	Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT
	Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,784Highest 17% above CT	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services	Thompson School District
High school in town	Hamden High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.