Compare towns
Bethany vs Madison vs Putnam
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Bethany | Madison | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
17,616Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Madison and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Madison School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.