What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Horicon	Hamden
People
Population	1,700Highest	1,245Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.4±5.2Lowest 27% above NY	51±7.5Highest 28% 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	15.6%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	13.7%±3.2Lowest 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+	30.4%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±9.2Highest 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+	30%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±4.9Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.3Lowest 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	$80,750±$27kHighest 6% below NY	$64,457±$14kLowest 25% 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	$295,400±$46kHighest 30% below NY	$226,500±$16kLowest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,032±$139Highest 36% below NY	$934±$68Lowest 42% 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	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY	$3,416Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±71.7Highest NY: 52.1%	46.8%±37.3Lowest 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	6.6%Lowest NY: 14%	11.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 39% below NY	24 minHighest 28% below NY
Work from home	10.3%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%	9.4%±3.4Lowest 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.