Compare towns
Andover vs Bethany vs Durham vs Barkhamsted
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Bethany has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barkhamsted has the most affordable homes ($368k 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 | Andover | Bethany | Durham | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
5,288 |
7,208Highest |
3,678 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
54.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$123,544±$9kLowest 29% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$368,000±$15kLowest about the CT average |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745Highest 22% below CT |
— | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,164±$114 22% below CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$6,354Lowest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
3.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Barkhamsted 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.