Compare towns
Bethany vs Hamden vs Windham vs Durham
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Windham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,045Highest |
23,961 |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
| Durham 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%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham 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 |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Hamden 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% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 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 |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Windham High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.