Compare towns
Bethany vs Thomaston vs Hamden vs Burlington
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%).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
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 | Thomaston | Hamden | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,492 |
61,045Highest |
9,680 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Bethany and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Burlington and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$165,120±$13k 72% above CT |
| Bethany and Burlington 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 |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
| Burlington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,427±$671 4% below CT |
| Hamden and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$7,464 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Hamden High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.