Compare towns
Madison vs Hamden vs Putnam vs Guilford
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%).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
61,045Highest |
9,292Lowest |
22,108 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
| Madison and Guilford 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Madison 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$515,800±$40k 41% above CT |
| 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 |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,717±$128 15% above 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,744 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Putnam School District | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Hamden High School | Putnam High School | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.