Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Sterling
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%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
61,045Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Bethany and Sterling 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Sterling 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.