What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($227k median).

Horicon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Horicon
People
Population	1,245Lowest	1,700Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51±7.5Highest 28% above NY	50.4±5.2Lowest 27% above NY
	Hamden and Horicon 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%	15.6%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Horicon 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%	30.4%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hamden and Horicon 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%	30%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±4.9Highest NY: 7%
	Horicon 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	$80,750±$27kHighest 6% below NY
	Horicon 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	$295,400±$46kHighest 30% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$934±$68Lowest 42% below NY	$1,032±$139Highest 36% below NY
	Horicon 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	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±37.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.6%±71.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Horicon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest NY: 14%	6.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 28% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	9.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.3%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Horicon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.