Compare towns
Madison vs Hamden vs Madison Center
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 homeowners (90.4%).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k 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 | Hamden | Madison Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
61,045Highest |
1,981Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Madison and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
35.5%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±5.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$178,194±$59kHighest 86% above CT |
| Madison Center 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$1,914±$1k 29% above CT |
| Madison and Madison Center 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 |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.6%±16.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
27.2%±10.1 CT: 16% |
| Madison and Madison Center 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Hamden High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.