Compare towns
North Haven vs Bethany vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Haven has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Waterford has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | North Haven | Bethany | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,336Highest |
5,288Lowest |
19,673 |
| Median age | 45.7±1.3 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
46±2.4Highest 12% above CT |
| Waterford and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Waterford and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,689±$7k 39% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$104,820±$9kLowest 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$355,900±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,720±$127Highest 16% above CT |
— | $1,651±$153Lowest 11% above CT |
| North Haven and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,964 5% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,876Lowest 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±10Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| North Haven and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| North Haven 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 | #84 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | North Haven High School | None in town | Waterford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.