Compare towns
Madison vs Norwalk vs Avon
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).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% rent).
Avon has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Norwalk | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Lowest |
92,187Highest |
18,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
40.6±1Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk 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±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$107,616±$7kLowest 12% above CT |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
| Madison and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$479,700±$20kLowest 31% above CT |
| Madison and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,857±$151Lowest 25% above CT |
| Norwalk 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 |
$7,817Lowest 18% above CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Norwalk 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% |
9.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Avon and Madison 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Norwalk School District | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Brien McMahon High School | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.