Compare towns
Hamden vs Union 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%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
944Lowest |
5,288 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% 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 |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 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% |
9%±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 | — | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Union 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.