What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Walton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).

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	Walton
People
Population	1,245Lowest	5,222Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51±7.5Highest 28% above NY	50±4Lowest 26% above NY
	Hamden and Walton 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%	17.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Walton 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%	23.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hamden and Walton 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%	24.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	1.8%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Walton 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±$14kHighest 25% below NY	$49,183±$15kLowest 43% below NY
	Hamden and Walton 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	$151,100±$17kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$934±$68Highest 42% below NY	$818±$92Lowest 50% below NY
	Hamden and Walton 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	$2,494Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±37.3Highest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±12.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hamden and Walton 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%	25.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 28% below NY	17 minLowest 47% below NY
Work from home	9.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.3%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Walton 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	—	#292 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WALTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.