Compare towns
Bethany vs Ridgefield 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 homeowners (97.2%).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ridgefield | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
25,109 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield 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% |
18.7%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Ridgefield 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% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Ridgefield 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 |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield 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% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Ridgefield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Ridgefield High School | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.