Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Thompson vs Burlington
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 homeowners (97.2%).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Burlington has the most kids (25.9% 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 | Thompson | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,208 |
9,337 |
9,680Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Burlington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest 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% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington and Bethany 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 |
$165,120±$13k 72% above CT |
| Bethany and Burlington 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 |
$418,700±$21k 14% above CT |
| Durham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,427±$671Highest 4% below CT |
| Burlington and Durham 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 |
$7,464 12% above 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% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Durham 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 | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Thompson School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
7.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.