What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Chaplin
People
Population	17,616Highest	2,070Lowest
Median age	51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT	43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT
Kids under 18	18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2%	15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Madison and Chaplin 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%	20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Madison and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1%	10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Chaplin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT	$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT	$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT	$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average
	Madison and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,843Highest 33% above CT	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6%	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Madison and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest CT: 10%	5.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above CT	32 minHighest 22% above CT
Work from home	30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16%	18.1%±10Lowest CT: 16%
	Madison and Chaplin 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	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Daniel Hand High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	7.5Lowest
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.