Compare towns
Bethany vs Sutton vs Hamden vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Sutton | Hamden | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
9,452 |
61,045Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 9% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
38.7±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethany and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$98,306±$7kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42k 26% above U.S. |
| Bethany and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 26% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$298,200±$9kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,746±$50 24% above U.S. |
$1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,784 150% above U.S. |
$6,534Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Beacon Falls 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #122 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Sutton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
13.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.