Compare towns
Avon vs Hamden vs Madison vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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 | Avon | Hamden | Madison | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,946 |
61,045Highest |
17,616Lowest |
25,109 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$20k 31% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,371 41% above CT |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Madison 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 | #31 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Madison School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Avon High School | Hamden High School | Daniel Hand High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.