What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).

Durham has the most affordable homes ($402k 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	Durham
People
Population	17,616Highest	3,347Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+28.6% CT: +0.9%
Median age	51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT	47.9±5.4Lowest 17% above CT
	Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2%	15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Madison and Durham 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%	19.1%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Madison and Durham 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%	42.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1%	4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Madison and Durham 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	$152,396±$32kLowest 59% above CT
	Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT	$401,700±$32kLowest 9% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT	$1,625±$1kLowest 9% above CT
	Madison and Durham 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	$7,107Lowest 7% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6%
	Durham 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%	6.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest CT: 66.5%	90%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT	1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above CT	24 minLowest 10% below CT
Work from home	30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16%	20%±6.7Lowest CT: 16%
	Madison and Durham 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	#88 of 149 in CT
School district	Madison School District	—
High school in town	Daniel Hand High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.