Compare towns
Hamden vs Prospect vs Bethany vs Woodbridge
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).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Woodbridge has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Prospect | Bethany | Woodbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
9,458 |
5,288Lowest |
9,073 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
48.7±2.3Highest 18% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
24.7%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Woodbridge and Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Woodbridge 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% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
71.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$188,750±$34kHighest 97% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$588,100±$40kHighest 60% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
— | $1,808±$110Highest 22% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Prospect 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 |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
71.1%±23.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Woodbridge and Hamden 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% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
17.2%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Woodbridge 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #16 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 05 · Woodbridge School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | None in town | Amity Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.