Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield vs Bethany vs North Haven
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 renters (37.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
North Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Plainfield | Bethany | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
15,141 |
5,288Lowest |
24,336 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
| North Haven and Bethany 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$132,689±$7k 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
| Bethany and North Haven 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 |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,720±$127 16% above CT |
| Hamden and North Haven 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,964 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and North Haven 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and North Haven 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— | 11.0 |
| 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.