Compare towns
Bethany vs Clinton vs Madison
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).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($380k median).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Bethany | Clinton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
13,377 |
17,616Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
50.5±3 23% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Madison and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Madison 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% |
24.1%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
43.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 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 |
$124,824±$14kLowest 30% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% 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 |
$380,000±$14kLowest 4% above CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$105Lowest 6% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
| Madison and Clinton 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 |
$6,151Lowest 7% below CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
43.5%±14.6 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Madison and Clinton 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% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 minLowest 10% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #81 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Clinton School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | The Morgan School | Daniel Hand High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.

