Compare towns
Hamden vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
3,629Lowest |
5,288 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
| Bethany and Sterling 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bethany 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Sterling 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Sterling School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.