Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Wallingford
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%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
44,362 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
42.6±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
| Wallingford and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Wallingford 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% |
21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$5,963Lowest 10% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Wallingford 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% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Wallingford 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 | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.