Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Beacon Falls 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%).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Hamden | Beacon Falls | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
6,147 |
9,680 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
39.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Beacon Falls and Bethany 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
| Burlington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,427±$671Lowest 4% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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 |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
$7,464 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.