Compare towns
Mansfield vs Danielson vs Hamden vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hamden has the highest household income ($98k).
Vernon has the oldest population (median age 39.4).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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.
| Measure | Mansfield | Danielson | Hamden | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358 |
4,209Lowest |
61,045Highest |
30,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
34.5±3.6 16% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
| Vernon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Danielson and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,235±$194Lowest 17% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Hamden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$4,009Lowest 40% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
21.1% CT: 10% |
9.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | — | Hamden High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.