Compare towns
Bethany vs Canterbury 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).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Canterbury | Hamden | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
5,124Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,867 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Canterbury 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% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly 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% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% 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% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% 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 |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 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% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 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 |
32 min 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Canterbury 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 | None in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.