Compare towns
Hamden vs Derby vs Bethany vs Middletown
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%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Hamden | Derby | Bethany | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
12,487 |
5,288Lowest |
47,958 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
| Derby and Bethany 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% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Hamden 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Hamden 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% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Hamden 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
— | $1,446±$45Lowest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Derby School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Derby High School | None in town | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | 11.8 |
| 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.