What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most people working from home (9.4%).

Colchester has the most kids (18% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamden	Colchester
People
Population	1,245Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51±7.5Highest 28% above NY	49.2±7Lowest 24% above NY
	Hamden and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±9.2Highest NY: 17.9%	26.5%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hamden and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.6%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,457±$14kLowest 25% below NY	$67,222±$15kHighest 22% below NY
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$226,500±$16kLowest 47% below NY	$240,500±$80kHighest 43% below NY
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$934±$68Lowest 42% below NY	$1,155±$332Highest 29% below NY
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,416Highest 48% below NY	$1,915Lowest 71% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±37.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.1%±27.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Colchester and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%	12.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 28% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.4%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%	2.4%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.