Compare towns
Hamden vs Wilton 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).
Wilton has the most expensive homes ($929k median).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
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 | Wilton | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
18,777 |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.1±1.7Highest 5% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Wilton 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Wilton and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$242,199±$16kHighest 153% above CT |
$166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$928,800±$28kHighest 153% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$1,819±$438Highest 22% above CT |
— |
| Wilton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±15.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Wilton 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
36 minHighest 35% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
33.8%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 149 in CT | #6 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Wilton School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Wilton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.