Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Union 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 most renters (37.6% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
61,045Highest |
944Lowest |
9,680 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
39.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
24%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% |
5%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% 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±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% 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 |
— | $1,427±$671Lowest 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 |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$7,464 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Hamden 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Union School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.