Compare towns
Bolton vs Madison vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Bolton | Madison | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
17,616Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 51.3% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091 22% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Madison and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #79 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Madison School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
9.8 |
10.3Highest |
| 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.