What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).

Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sutton	Hamden
People
Population	9,452Lowest	61,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	38.7±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$98,306±$7kLowest 22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$298,200±$9kLowest 10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S.	$7,784Highest 150% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hamden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	Sutton	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	Sutton High School	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.