Compare towns
Plainville vs Hamden vs Southington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hamden has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Plainville | Hamden | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
61,045Highest |
43,803 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Southington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Southington and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
43.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,472±$77 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,206 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Southington 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Hamden High School | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.