Compare towns
Bethany vs Colebrook vs Hamden vs Durham
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Colebrook | Hamden | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
1,494Lowest |
61,045Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Colebrook and Durham 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%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Colebrook 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham 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 |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Hamden and Colebrook 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 |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| 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% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% 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 |
1976Highest 9 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 |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 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 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.