Compare towns
Madison vs Ridgefield vs Killingworth
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%).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Killingworth has the most affordable homes ($446k 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 | Ridgefield | Killingworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
25,109Highest |
6,240Lowest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above CT |
53.3±4.6Highest 30% above CT |
| Killingworth and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Killingworth 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% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingworth 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% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
55.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Ridgefield 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 |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$140,655±$16kLowest 47% above CT |
| Ridgefield 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 |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$446,200±$56kLowest 22% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Lowest 36% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
— |
| Ridgefield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,550Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Killingworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1987Highest 20 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
24%±6.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Ridgefield 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #29 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Ridgefield School District | Regional School District 17 |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Ridgefield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.