Compare towns
Bethany vs Bolton vs Hamden vs Killingly
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 highest household income ($166k).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Bethany | Bolton | Hamden | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,853Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,867 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Bolton and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bolton 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% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Hamden 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Bolton High School | Hamden High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.