Compare towns
Bethany vs Brooklyn vs Madison vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Bethany | Brooklyn | Madison | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
8,517 |
17,616Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Madison and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 min 12% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Madison and Durham 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District | Madison School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.