Compare towns
Bethany vs Pomfret vs Hamden vs Prospect
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).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Pomfret | Hamden | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,317Lowest |
61,045Highest |
9,458 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
| Prospect and Pomfret 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% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Prospect 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% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Bethany and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret 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% |
6% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Pomfret School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.