Compare towns
Hamden vs Windham 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 homeowners (62.4%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Windham | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045 |
23,961Lowest |
92,187Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Hamden 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Norwalk 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%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #112 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 | Norwalk School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Windham High School | Brien McMahon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
9.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.