Compare towns
Guilford vs Madison vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($440k 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 | Guilford | Madison | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,108 |
17,616Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
44.9±1.4Lowest 9% above CT |
| Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
60.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,816±$11kLowest 44% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Madison and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $515,800±$40k 41% above CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$440,000±$17kLowest 20% above CT |
| Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,717±$128 15% above CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
| Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,744 32% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$7,755Lowest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±9Highest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Guilford and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Guilford 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 | #15 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Guilford School District | Madison School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Guilford High School | Daniel Hand High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.