Compare towns
Bethany vs Brookfield vs Hamden
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%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k 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 | Brookfield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
17,706 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Brookfield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Hamden 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% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and Brookfield 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±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Brookfield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
| Brookfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Brookfield 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% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Brookfield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.