Compare towns
Bethany vs Madison vs Beacon Falls vs Prospect
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).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Beacon Falls has the most renters (14.5% rent).
Prospect has the shortest commute (28 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 | Madison | Beacon Falls | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
17,616Highest |
6,147 |
9,458 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
| Madison and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Prospect 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% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% 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 |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$1,800±$433Lowest 21% above CT |
| Madison and Beacon Falls 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 |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
3.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Beacon Falls 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 | #7 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Madison School District | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Woodland Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.