Compare towns
Bethany vs Columbia vs Coventry 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).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Coventry has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
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 | Columbia | Coventry | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
5,300 |
12,326 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Columbia and Coventry 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry 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% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Columbia School District | Coventry School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
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.