Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Thompson vs Woodbridge
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 most renters (37.6% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Woodbridge has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Thompson | Woodbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
9,337 |
9,073 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.7±2.3 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.7%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Woodbridge and Bethany 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Woodbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
71.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
2.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$188,750±$34kHighest 97% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Bethany 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$588,100±$40kHighest 60% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,808±$110Highest 22% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
71.1%±23.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Woodbridge and Thompson 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%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
93.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
17.2%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Woodbridge 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #16 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Thompson School District | Regional School District 05 · Woodbridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Amity Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.