Compare towns
Hamden vs Thomaston 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%).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Thomaston | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
7,492 |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
| Bethany and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston and Hamden 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% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Thomaston School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.