Compare towns
Hamden vs Norwich vs Willimantic 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%).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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 | Norwich | Willimantic | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
39,973 |
18,096 |
5,288Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
| Bethany and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Willimantic 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Bethany 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% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | — | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Norwich Free Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.