Compare towns

North Haven vs Hamden vs Wallingford Center

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 people working from home (16.3%).
Wallingford Center has the most renters (39.6% rent).

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.

MeasureNorth HavenHamdenWallingford Center
People
Population
24,336
61,045Highest
18,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+0.4%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.7±1.3Highest
11% above CT
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
39.6±4.4
4% below CT
Kids under 18
21.5%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.3%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
North Haven and Wallingford Center 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%
18.1%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.4%±3
CT: 18.5%
North Haven and Wallingford Center 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%
47.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.7%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$132,689±$7kHighest
39% above CT
$98,306±$7k
about the CT average
$89,959±$8kLowest
6% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$393,200±$15kHighest
7% above CT
$298,200±$9kLowest
19% below CT
$319,200±$11k
13% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,720±$127
16% above CT
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,336±$102Lowest
10% below 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
$7,784Highest
17% above CT
$5,264Lowest
21% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.2%±10
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
40.8%±11.4Lowest
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%
9.3%Highest
CT: 10%
7.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%
CT: 66.5%
60.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Highest
3 yrs older than CT
1964Highest
3 yrs older than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below CT
22 min
18% below CT
25 minHighest
7% below CT
Work from home
14.9%±2.8
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
12.9%±2.5Lowest
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 #122 of 149 in CT —
School district Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services —
High school in town North Haven High School Hamden High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
13.5Highest
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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.