ZIP Code · CT

ZIP 06518

Part of Hamden, CT

Pop. 20,126·New Haven County·14th most expensive ZIP in Connecticut

Median rent (all units)

$2,745/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.8%

Month-over-Month

+1.0%

vs US Median

+$813

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 06518 · $2,745

More expensive than 85% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,830

1 BR

$2,130

2 BR

$2,630

3 BR

$3,250

4 BR+

$3,840

Research median

$2,630/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 06518 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.

Past year vs. the rest of Connecticut

Rent in ZIP 06518 changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 64 Connecticut ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.7%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($106,692) is $2,667 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,630); a 3-bedroom is $3,250.

Rank in Hamden

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Hamden.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 06514, 4 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,276/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 06518. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$32,940/yr

At $2,745/mo median

Location

CityHamden

StateCT

CountyNew Haven County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.8% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 06518 (Hamden, CT) is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 48.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,126

Median income

$106,692

Median age

31.9

Renters

39.3%

Age distribution

41.8%

18.1%

17%

Under 1811.4%

18–3441.8%

35–5418.1%

55–6411.8%

65+17%

Gender

46.3%

53.7%

Male46.3%

Female53.7%

Race & ethnicity

66.9%

16%

White66.9%

Black16%

Hispanic9.3%

Asian5.5%

Other2.2%

Education (25+)

20.8%

26.4%

48.7%

No HS diploma4%

HS diploma20.8%

Some college26.4%

Bachelor's+48.7%

Housing tenure

60.7%

39.3%

Owner60.7%

Renter39.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 06518 in Hamden, CT has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,418 → $2,745

up 13.5%

Income

$91,909 → $106,692

up 16.1%

Population

20,210 → 20,126

down 0.4%

Renter share

38% → 39.3%

+1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

53.5% → 48.7%

-4.8 pts

Median age

29.9 → 31.9

+2.0 yrs

Compared with 2023, rent in ZIP 06518 in Hamden, CT has increased by $327 per month, settling near $2,745 after starting the period at $2,418. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 06518 in Hamden, CT now reports about $106,692, up from $91,909 in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 53.5% to 48.7%. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 06518 in Hamden, CT reflects that arc in its own way.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 06518

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 06518 covers Hamden, CT. The median rent here is $2,745/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,130/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,630/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($106,692/yr), ZIP 06518 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 06518?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $110,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,745/mo in ZIP 06518. The local median household income is $106,692/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 06518?

Rent in ZIP 06518 has risen 4.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.

How does ZIP 06518 compare to other ZIPs in Connecticut?

ZIP 06518 is one of the pricier among Connecticut ZIP codes for rent, ranking #14 of 83 at $2,745/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 06518 changed +4.8%, against a typical +3.7% across the 64 Connecticut ZIP codes Zillow tracks.