Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Putnam 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
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 | Putnam | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
9,292 |
9,680 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% |
20%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% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below 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±$9k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% 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±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,427±$671 4% below CT |
| Hamden and Burlington 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,464 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Burlington 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% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #128 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 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Putnam High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.