Compare towns
Bethany vs Cheshire 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 highest household income ($166k).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Cheshire | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
29,040 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Cheshire 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% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire 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% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and Cheshire 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 |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Cheshire and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,755Lowest 17% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Cheshire 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% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Cheshire 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 | #18 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Cheshire School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Cheshire High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
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.