Compare towns
Madison vs Sterling vs Ridgefield
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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 | Sterling | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
3,629Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 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 |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Sterling School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town | Ridgefield High School |
| 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.