Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Hampton vs Prospect
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 youngest population (median age 42.5).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Durham | Hampton | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
7,208 |
1,647Lowest |
9,458Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
| Hampton and Prospect 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Prospect 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% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Durham 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 |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$109,167±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% 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 |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Hampton 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 |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Prospect 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
90%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | — | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Hampton School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.