Compare towns
Bethany vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Plainfield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
15,141 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% 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%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Plainfield 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.