Compare towns
Bethany vs Colebrook vs Hamden vs Beacon Falls
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).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Colebrook | Hamden | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
1,494Lowest |
61,045Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Colebrook and Beacon Falls 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Beacon Falls 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% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$626Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls 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 |
$6,211Lowest 7% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Colebrook School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.