Compare towns
Bethany vs Windsor Locks vs Prospect 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Windsor Locks | Prospect | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
12,579 |
9,458 |
61,045Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
| Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
| Prospect and Hamden 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$7,784 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.