Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Killingly vs Orange
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).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Hamden | Killingly | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,867 |
14,315 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Bethany and Orange 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Orange 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.