Compare towns
Madison vs Old Lyme vs Madison Center
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%).
Old Lyme has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k 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 | Madison Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
7,679 |
1,981Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
50.6±3.3Lowest 23% above CT |
60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest 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%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
35.5%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
56.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±5.5Highest 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 |
$131,899±$11kLowest 38% above CT |
$178,194±$59kHighest 86% 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 |
$484,200±$21kLowest 32% above CT |
$841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$1,914±$1kLowest 29% above 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 | $8,843 33% above CT |
$6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.6%±16.1Lowest 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% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7Lowest CT: 16% |
27.2%±10.1 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 | #10 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Regional School District 18 | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.