Compare towns
Hamden vs Thompson 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
9,337 |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Hamden 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Thompson School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.