Compare towns
Madison vs Guilford vs Clinton
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 most people working from home (30.2%).
Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Guilford | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
22,108Highest |
3,465Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.2% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
51.1±1.9Lowest 24% above CT |
53.2±6.8Highest 29% above CT |
| Clinton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.9%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Clinton and Guilford 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% |
60.6% CT: 42.5% |
42%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Guilford 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 |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
$102,750±$22kLowest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$515,800±$40k 41% above CT |
$365,500±$29kLowest about the CT average |
| Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,717±$128 15% above CT |
$1,432±$131Lowest 4% below CT |
| Madison and Guilford 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 |
$8,744 32% above CT |
$5,860Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9Highest CT: 52.6% |
34.7%±13.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Guilford 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% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
64.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Guilford 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 | #15 of 149 in CT | #81 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Guilford School District | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Guilford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.