What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).

West Haven has the most renters (49.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethany	West Haven
People
Population	5,288Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% CT: +0.9%
Median age	42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
Kids under 18	20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	17.2%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Bethany and West Haven 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%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3.7Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT	$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,442±$43 3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,313Highest 25% above CT	$6,941Lowest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Bethany 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%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.2%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above CT	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	12%±5.2Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Bethany and West Haven 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	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Bethany School District · Regional School District 05	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	None in town	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	15.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.