Compare towns
Madison vs Brooklyn vs Killingly vs Ridgefield
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Madison | Brooklyn | Killingly | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
8,517Lowest |
17,867 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below 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 | $583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below 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 | $8,843 33% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Madison and Ridgefield 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.