Compare towns
North Haven vs Wallingford vs Hamden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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.
| Measure | North Haven | Wallingford | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,336Lowest |
44,362 |
61,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,720±$127 16% above CT |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Hamden and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,964 5% above CT |
$5,963Lowest 10% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.3%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and North 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 | #84 of 149 in CT | #108 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Wallingford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | — | Lyman Hall High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.