Compare towns
New Haven vs Plainfield vs Hamden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Hamden has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | New Haven | Plainfield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 134,349Highest |
15,141Lowest |
61,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
38.7±0.9Highest 6% below CT |
| Hamden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% 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±$33 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,430 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 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% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Wilbur Cross High School | Plainfield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.