Compare towns
Bethany vs Preston 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).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
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 | Preston | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,821Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Preston and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Preston 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Hamden and Preston 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District | 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.