Compare towns
Hamden vs Windsor Locks 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Bethany | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
12,579 |
5,288Lowest |
59,635 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
— | $1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 17% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% 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 |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 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 | Windsor Locks 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 | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 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.