Compare towns

Hamden vs Colebrook vs Bethany

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%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).

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.

MeasureHamdenColebrookBethany
People
Population
61,045Highest
1,494Lowest
5,288
Median age
38.7±0.9Lowest
6% below CT
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
Kids under 18
17%±1.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Bethany and Colebrook 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%
26%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.8%
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,306±$7kLowest
about the CT average
$111,250±$17k
16% above CT
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$298,200±$9kLowest
19% below CT
$342,800±$19k
7% below CT
$418,000±$42kHighest
14% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,333±$626Lowest
10% below CT
—
Hamden and Colebrook 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
$6,211Lowest
7% below CT
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Hamden and Colebrook 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%
8.3%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1970Highest
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below CT
34 minHighest
29% above CT
32 min
21% above CT
Work from home
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
12%±5.2
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
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Colebrook School District Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town Hamden High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5
— —
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.