Compare towns
Norwalk 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
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Norwalk | Plainfield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 92,187Highest |
15,141Lowest |
61,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
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.