Compare towns
Salem vs Madison vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Salem | Madison | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
17,616Highest |
4,317 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$108,476±$8kLowest 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kLowest 10% above CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
| Madison and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Madison School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.