What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison Center has the highest household income ($178k).

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($591k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison Center	Sharon
People
Population	1,981Lowest	2,723Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT	59.5±6Lowest 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%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2%	7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Madison Center and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.5%±5.5Lowest 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%	56.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±5.5Highest CT: 7.1%	3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Madison Center and Sharon 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	$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT	$590,700±$156kLowest 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±$1kHighest 29% above CT	$1,750±$1kLowest 18% above CT
	Madison Center and Sharon 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	$4,484Lowest 33% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.6%±16.1Lowest CT: 52.6%	64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Sharon and Madison Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest CT: 10%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%	72.5%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below CT	30 minHighest 13% above CT
Work from home	27.2%±10.1Highest CT: 16%	18.7%±6.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Madison Center and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Sharon School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.