Compare towns
Hamden vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($98k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
12,579Lowest |
15,141 |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Plainfield 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
| Hamden and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% 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 |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
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.