Compare towns
Madison Center vs Madison vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k median).
Madison has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
Sharon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
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 Center | Madison | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,981Lowest |
17,616Highest |
2,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
51.9±1.9Lowest 26% above CT |
59.5±6 45% above CT |
| Madison Center and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Madison and Madison Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.5%±5.5 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Madison Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.4% CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±5.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,194±$59kHighest 86% above CT |
$167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT |
$583,900±$30kLowest 59% above CT |
$590,700±$156k 61% above CT |
| Madison Center and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,914±$1k 29% above CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,750±$1kLowest 18% above CT |
| Madison and Madison Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.6%±16.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.2%±10.1 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Madison Center 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 | — | #7 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Madison School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | — | Daniel Hand High School | 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.