Compare towns
Hamden vs Willimantic vs Norwalk vs Wallingford
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 renters (65.1% rent).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Wallingford has the most homeowners (72.8%).
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 | Norwalk | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
18,096Lowest |
92,187Highest |
44,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
42.6±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
| Wallingford and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Norwalk 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% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Norwalk and Wallingford 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,374±$84 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$5,963 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 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 | — | #112 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Norwalk School District | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | — | Brien McMahon High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 14.7Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.