Compare towns
Bethany vs Madison vs Plainfield vs Bolton
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 most homeowners (97.2%).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 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 | Plainfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
17,616Highest |
15,141 |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Bolton 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Bethany 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Madison and Plainfield 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% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Madison and Bolton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Madison School District | Plainfield School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
10.3Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.