Compare towns
Bethany vs Sandy Hook vs Stepney 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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Sandy Hook | Stepney | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
9,863 |
3,979Lowest |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Stepney 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and Sandy Hook 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 |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
96.4% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | — | — | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school 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 | 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.