Compare towns

Prospect vs Hamden vs Harwinton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).

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.

MeasureProspectHamdenHarwinton
People
Population
9,458
61,045Highest
5,575Lowest
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
46.1±4.3
12% above CT
Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
22.1%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
47.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
40.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.7%±2.9
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18k
32% above CT
$98,306±$7kLowest
about the CT average
$129,643±$18kHighest
35% above CT
Harwinton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$298,200±$9kLowest
19% below CT
$352,100±$16k
4% below CT
Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,746±$50
17% above CT
$1,504±$200Lowest
about the CT average
Prospect and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504
about the CT average
$7,784Highest
17% above CT
$5,503Lowest
17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
27.8%±27.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Hamden and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
9.3%Highest
CT: 10%
4.8%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
26 min
3% below CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Lowest
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
13.5%±4.7
CT: 16%
Hamden and Harwinton 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 #50 of 149 in CT #122 of 149 in CT #34 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Regional School District 10
High school in town None in town Hamden High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
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.