Compare towns
Hamden vs Union vs Middletown vs Norwalk
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%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Union | Middletown | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
944Lowest |
47,958 |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown 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±$7k about the CT average |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
| Norwalk 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
— | $1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk 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 | — | #121 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Middletown High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 11.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.