Compare towns
Madison vs Madison Center 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%).
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k 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 | Madison Center | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
1,981Lowest |
22,108Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
51.1±1.9Lowest 24% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest 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% |
35.5%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±5.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$178,194±$59kHighest 86% above CT |
$137,816±$11kLowest 44% 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 |
$841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT |
$515,800±$40kLowest 41% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,914±$1k 29% above CT |
$1,717±$128Lowest 15% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,744Lowest 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
41.6%±16.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9Highest 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% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
27.2%±10.1 CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #15 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.