Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Killingly vs Preston
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
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 | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
61,045Highest |
17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Hamden and Preston 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below 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% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% 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 |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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 | #93 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 | Preston School District |
| 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.