Compare towns
North Haven vs Suffield 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 most kids (21.5% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
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.
| Measure | North Haven | Suffield | Hamden | Wallingford Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,336 |
15,702Lowest |
61,045Highest |
18,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.6±4.4 4% below CT |
| North Haven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 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% |
18.4%±2.2 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$89,959±$8kLowest 6% below CT |
| North Haven and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$319,200±$11k 13% below CT |
| Suffield and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,720±$127 16% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,264Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.8%±11.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
60.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
12.9%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Hamden 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — |
| High school in town | North Haven High School | Suffield High School | Hamden High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.