Compare towns
Hamden vs Hampton vs New Haven vs Bethany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
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 | Hampton | New Haven | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045 |
1,647Lowest |
134,349Highest |
5,288 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 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%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.9% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$287,100±$16kLowest 22% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,488±$33 about the CT average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,430 3% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #145 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Hampton School District | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Wilbur Cross High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 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.