What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).

Hamden has the most homeowners (62.4%).

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	New Haven	Hamden
People
Population	134,349Highest	61,045Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT	38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2%	17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%
	Hamden and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT
	Hamden and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,488±$33Lowest about the CT average	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,430Lowest 3% below CT	$7,784Highest 17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6%	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	New Haven and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.9%Highest CT: 10%	9.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%	62.4%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT	1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below CT	22 minHighest 18% below CT
Work from home	13.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%
	Hamden and New Haven 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	#145 of 149 in CT	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	Wilbur Cross High School	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	13.5Lowest
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.