Compare towns
Madison vs Washington vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($167k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Washington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
3,676Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Madison and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Madison 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Washington and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Madison and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Madison and Plainfield 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.1Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.