Compare towns
Madison vs Sterling vs Avon
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 expensive homes ($584k median).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Avon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sterling | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
3,629Lowest |
18,946Highest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Avon 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Avon 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 |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
| Madison and Avon 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$479,700±$20k 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
— | $1,857±$151Lowest 25% above CT |
| Madison and Avon 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Avon 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Avon and Madison 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Sterling School District | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.