Compare towns
Thompson vs Hamden vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k 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.
| Measure | Thompson | Hamden | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
61,045Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Hamden and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Canterbury and Hamden 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.