Compare towns
Madison vs Old Lyme vs Clinton
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 highest household income ($167k).
Old Lyme has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($380k 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 | Old Lyme | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
7,679Lowest |
13,377 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
50.5±3Lowest 23% above CT |
| Madison and Old Lyme 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Old Lyme and Madison 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% |
26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Old Lyme 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% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
43.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Clinton 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 |
$131,899±$11k 38% above CT |
$124,824±$14kLowest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
$380,000±$14kLowest 4% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$1,395±$105Lowest 6% below CT |
| Old Lyme 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 |
$6,284 5% below CT |
$6,151Lowest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.5%±14.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Old Lyme 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% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 10% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
11.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Old Lyme 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 | #10 of 149 in CT | #81 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Regional School District 18 | Clinton School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | The Morgan School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.