Compare towns
Hamden vs Willimantic vs Hampton 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Willimantic | Hampton | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
18,096 |
1,647Lowest |
5,288 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Hamden 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 | — | Hampton 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 | 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.