Compare towns
Woodbridge vs Sterling vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woodbridge has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Woodbridge | Sterling | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,073 |
3,629Lowest |
17,616Highest |
| Median age | 48.7±2.3 18% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Madison and Woodbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Woodbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Woodbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.7% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,750±$34kHighest 97% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $588,100±$40kHighest 60% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,808±$110Lowest 22% above CT |
— | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
| Madison and Woodbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.1%±23.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Woodbridge and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±5.5 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 05 · Woodbridge School District | Sterling School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Amity Regional High School | None in town | Daniel Hand High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.