Compare towns
Bethany vs Chaplin vs Hamden vs Hampton
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Chaplin | Hamden | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
2,070 |
61,045Highest |
1,647Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Hampton 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
| Hamden and Chaplin 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 |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Hamden 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% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% 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 |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Hampton 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.