Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Monroe vs Durham
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 renters (37.6% rent).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Monroe | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
18,949 |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
| Durham and Monroe 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%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe 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%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden 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% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham 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 |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Monroe 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Hamden 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Monroe School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Masuk High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.