Compare towns
Madison vs Bethany vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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 | Madison | Bethany | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
5,288Lowest |
8,517 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | $167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
| Madison and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
— | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Madison and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.