Compare towns
Madison vs Hamden vs Plainville
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 expensive homes ($584k median).
Hamden has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
61,045Highest |
17,551Lowest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Plainville 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% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Madison and Hamden 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 |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Hamden High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.