Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks 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 renters (37.6% rent).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Plainville | Windsor Locks | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
17,551 |
12,579 |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.