Compare towns
Bethany vs Avon vs Hamden vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Bethany | Avon | Hamden | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
18,946 |
61,045Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Avon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Bethany and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Avon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Avon High School | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.