Compare towns
Madison vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville 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).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainville | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
12,579Lowest |
17,551 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Plainville 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below 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 |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.