What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lewis has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.4%).

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	Lewis
People
Population	1,245Highest	1,156Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-6.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51±7.5Lowest 28% above NY	52.3±5.2Highest 31% above NY
	Lewis and Hamden 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lewis 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%	23%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hamden and Lewis 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%	29.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	0.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Hamden and Lewis 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	$82,083±$35kHighest 5% below NY
	Lewis 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±$16kHighest 47% below NY	$181,000±$26kLowest 57% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$934±$68Lowest 42% below NY	$985±$284Highest 39% below NY
	Lewis 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	$2,801Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±37.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	54%±46.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lewis 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%	3.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	82%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 28% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	9.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.9%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lewis 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.