Compare towns
Bethany vs Prospect vs Beacon Falls 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).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
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 | Prospect | Beacon Falls | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
9,458 |
6,147 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Beacon Falls 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% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect 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 |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.