What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

Hamden has the most kids (17% under 18).

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	Thompson	Hamden
People
Population	9,337Lowest	61,045Highest
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT	38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%	18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	47.8%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average	$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average
	Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT	$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT
	Hamden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT	$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT	$7,784Highest 17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%	50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%	9.3%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%	62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT	1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above CT	22 minLowest 18% below CT
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%	16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16%
	Hamden and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#122 of 149 in CT
School district	Thompson School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.