Compare towns
Hamden vs Willimantic vs New 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 homeowners (62.4%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
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 | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
18,096Lowest |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
31.9±0.5 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$56,851±$4k 41% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
| Hamden and New Haven 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
23 minHighest 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and New 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 | — | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.