What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k 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	Monroe	Hamden
People
Population	18,949Lowest	61,045Highest
Median age	43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Hamden and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT	$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT
	Hamden and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$7,784Lowest 17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6%
	Hamden and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%	9.3%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	22 minLowest 18% below CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Monroe 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	#48 of 149 in CT	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	Masuk High School	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.