What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Derby
People
Population	17,616Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT	46.4±3.1Lowest 13% above CT
Kids under 18	18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2%	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Madison and Derby 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%	21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Madison and Derby 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%	35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1%	5.9%±2 CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT	$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT	$1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average
	Madison and Derby 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	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Madison 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%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above CT	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 149 in CT	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Madison School District	Derby School District
High school in town	Daniel Hand High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	9.7Lowest
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.