Compare towns
Hamden vs Durham vs Bethany vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% 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 | Durham | Bethany | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
7,208 |
5,288Lowest |
134,349Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
| Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Bethany 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Durham 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% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and New Haven 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 |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
| Bethany and Durham 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 |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
— | $1,488±$33 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,430Lowest 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #145 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 13 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Wilbur Cross High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
8.9Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| 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.