Compare towns

Bethany vs Redding vs Durham 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 most kids (20.3% under 18).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
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.

MeasureBethanyReddingDurhamHamden
People
Population
5,288Lowest
8,780
7,208
61,045Highest
Median age
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
45.5±2.8
11% above CT
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
Kids under 18
20.3%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5
CT: 20.2%
Bethany and Redding 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%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58%
CT: 42.5%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
47.9%
CT: 42.5%
47.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.7
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$166,236±$20k
74% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$158,857±$7k
66% above CT
$98,306±$7kLowest
about the CT average
Redding and Bethany 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
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$424,800±$23k
16% above CT
$298,200±$9kLowest
19% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,154±$448Lowest
22% below CT
$1,746±$50
17% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,313
25% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$7,998
20% above CT
$7,784Lowest
17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4
CT: 52.6%
Redding 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%
4%
CT: 10%
3.4%
CT: 10%
9.3%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
93.2%
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
23 min
13% below CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
Work from home
12%±5.2Lowest
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT #122 of 149 in CT
School district Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Regional School District 13 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services
High school in town None in town Joel Barlow High School Coginchaug Regional High School Hamden High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
8.9Lowest
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.