Compare towns
Madison vs Sutton vs Guilford vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Guilford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Sutton | Guilford | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
9,452Lowest |
22,108 |
25,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.1±1.9 31% above U.S. |
45.1±1.4 16% above U.S. |
| Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ridgefield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guilford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 107% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$137,816±$11kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$179,219±$12kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| 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 76% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$515,800±$40kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$836,200±$26kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 43% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,717±$128 22% above U.S. |
$2,026±$200Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Ridgefield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843 184% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$8,744 180% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ridgefield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #15 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Sutton | Guilford School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Sutton High School | Guilford High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.8 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.