Compare towns
Bethany vs Torrington vs Hamden vs Naugatuck
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).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Torrington | Hamden | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
35,547 |
61,045Highest |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | -1.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Torrington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Naugatuck 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% |
19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington 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% |
24.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,042Lowest 24% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Torrington 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% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Naugatuck 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Torrington High School | Hamden High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
13.5 |
15.2Highest |
| 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.