Compare towns
Madison vs Norwalk vs Putnam
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%).
Norwalk has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Norwalk | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
92,187Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| 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 |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwalk and Putnam 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% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$7k 12% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$558,000±$21k 52% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below 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 |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk 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% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older 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%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Norwalk School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Brien McMahon High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
14.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.