Compare towns
Hamden vs Wallingford vs Bethany vs Manchester
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%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Wallingford | Bethany | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
44,362 |
5,288Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
42.6±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Wallingford and Bethany 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% |
18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Manchester 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% |
21.2%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,374±$84Lowest 8% below CT |
— | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$5,963 10% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
72.8% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.3%±2 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Manchester 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Wallingford School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Lyman Hall High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.5Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.