Compare towns
North 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
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% 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.
| Measure | North Haven | Plainfield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,336 |
15,141Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,720±$127 16% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | North Haven High School | Plainfield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.3Lowest |
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.