Compare towns
Bethany vs Putnam vs Hamden vs Durham
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 most kids (20.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Hamden has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Putnam | Hamden | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,120 |
61,045Highest |
7,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
| Durham 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hamden High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.