Compare towns
Hamden vs Colebrook vs Chaplin 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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.
| Measure | Hamden | Colebrook | Chaplin | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
5,288 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Colebrook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Chaplin 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% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%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% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,333±$626Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
— |
| Hamden and Chaplin 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 |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% 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% |
33.6%±27.7 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% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% 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 |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #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 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.