Compare towns
Bethany vs Middlebury vs Hamden
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).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% 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 | Middlebury | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,807 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.4±2.3Highest 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Middlebury and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury 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% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury and Hamden 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% |
53.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and Middlebury 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 |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Middlebury and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Middlebury 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 | #55 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 15 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.

