Compare towns
Hamden vs Avon vs Bethany vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
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 | Hamden | Avon | Bethany | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
18,946 |
5,288Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
44.3±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Avon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Avon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
| Bethany and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Avon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,857±$151Highest 25% above CT |
— | $1,519±$66Lowest about the CT average |
| Avon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Avon High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.7 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.