Compare towns
Bethany vs Hampton vs Bolton vs Beacon Falls
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most renters (14.5% rent).
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 | Hampton | Bolton | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
1,647Lowest |
4,853 |
6,147Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Hampton and Beacon Falls 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bolton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Beacon Falls 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Bethany 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Beacon Falls 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 | — | #79 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Hampton School District | Bolton School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bolton High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.