Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Thompson
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).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Durham | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,208 |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Durham 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Durham 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% 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±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Durham and Thompson 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.