Compare towns
Hamden vs Willimantic vs Middletown vs North Haven
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%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Willimantic | Middletown | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
18,096Lowest |
47,958 |
24,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,720±$127 16% above CT |
| Hamden and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$6,964 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
52.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and North Haven 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 | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | — |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Middletown High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.