Compare towns
Bethany vs Norwich vs Windham 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).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Norwich | Windham | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
39,973 |
23,961 |
61,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Bethany and Hamden 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% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 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 |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Norwich 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% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Windham High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.