Compare towns
Bethany vs Orange vs Hamden vs Bolton
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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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 | Orange | Hamden | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
14,315 |
61,045Highest |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Orange and Bolton 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Bethany and Orange 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.