Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Mansfield vs Bolton
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 affordable homes ($298k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Bolton has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
61,045Highest |
25,358 |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Bolton 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%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bolton 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Hamden and Mansfield 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 |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Bolton 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #79 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 19 · Mansfield School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | E. O. Smith High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.8 |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.