Compare towns
Madison vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Orange | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Orange 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% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Madison and Orange 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 |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Orange 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 |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 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.