What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hamden has the most expensive 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	Lewis	Hamden
People
Population	1,156Lowest	1,245Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.3±5.2Highest 31% above NY	51±7.5Lowest 28% 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	18.5%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	13.7%±3.2Lowest 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+	23%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±9.2Highest 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+	29.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	1%±1.3Highest 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	$82,083±$35kHighest 5% below NY	$64,457±$14kLowest 25% 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	$181,000±$26kLowest 57% below NY	$226,500±$16kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$985±$284Highest 39% below NY	$934±$68Lowest 42% 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	$2,801Lowest 57% below NY	$3,416Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±46.1Highest NY: 52.1%	46.8%±37.3Lowest 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	3.2%Lowest NY: 14%	11.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 24% below NY	24 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	11.9%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	9.4%±3.4Lowest 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.