Compare towns
Hamden vs Bethany vs Plainfield
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Bethany | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
5,288Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bethany and Hamden 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% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.