Compare towns
Hamden vs Windham vs Durham 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
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Windham | Durham | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
23,961 |
7,208Lowest |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham 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 |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$56,851±$4k 41% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Hamden 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Windham High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.