Compare towns
Madison vs Washington 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 most affordable homes ($584k median).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616 |
3,676Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above 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% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield 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% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest 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±$16k 75% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% 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±$30kLowest 59% above CT |
$660,200±$130k 80% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below 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 |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Lowest 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Regional School District 12 | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Shepaug Valley School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.1Lowest |
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.