Compare towns
Madison vs Hamden vs Ridgefield
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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 | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Lowest |
61,045Highest |
25,109 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield 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 |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Madison 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%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Hamden 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%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Madison and Ridgefield 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 | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Hamden High School | Ridgefield 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.