Madison : Connecticut

What Madison is like for active adults

Madison is a charming small town on Connecticut’s Long Island Sound. Its real estate values are the highest in Connecticut east (towards Boston) of New Haven, reflecting its desirability as a place to live.

As a retirement community there is much to find in this town of just under 19,000. It has a compact downtown with cute stores and the active, well-stocked E.C. Scranton Memorial Library. RJ Julia’s is one of the country’s top independent book stores, attracting best-selling authors on a regular basis. Located on a beautiful green is the First Congregational Church of Madison, a classic house of worship that dates to 1840. Graceful homes built by colonial sea captains flank both sides of the Boston Post Road (U.S. Route 1), reflecting the village’s heritage as a colonial ship-building center. The town features sandy beaches, private and public, that attract substantial numbers of “summer” residents. Here is a short TV feature about the town by a NYC station. Children and grandchildren love to visit this tourist destination, which is a plus. Transportation is good with a train station downtown that connects to Amtrak and (NY’s) Metro North in New Haven.

Where to Live
This upscale community has many desirable neighborhoods for active adults, including numerous developments featuring condos, town houses and 55+ associations. Some of the condo associations include The Mews (in the heart of the downtown), Windemere, Oxford Fells, Kensington Acres, Strathmore Farms, and many more. Many new residents are retirees from Fairfield County and the New York suburbs.

Real Estate Prices
Average prices have been volatile as the number of homes selling has dipped. The median selling price was about $400,000 in mid 2009. Condominiums can vary in price from the $200's to $1MM, depending on which development.

For more information on taxes check out this retirement guide for Connecticut. You might also enjoy this Wall Street Journal article about Madison and nearby Guilford.

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What is special about this retirement community

• Walkable, charming downtown • Accessible public beaches – the Surf Club, East Wharf, West Wharf, Hammonasset State Park • RJ Julia’s Bookstore • Deacon John Grave House – house dating back to the 1600’s and continuously occupied by one family • E.C. Scranton Memorial Library – architect Henry Bacon (who designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington)

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What is not special about this retirement community

• There is lot of traffic in the summer • High property values make it expensive to move here • Limited availability of restaurants in town and few restrooms in coffee houses • Big box shopping can be inconvenient distances • Police department has had numerous public scandals • Properties along the water have very high taxes.

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What kinds of people like retiring here

Madison is a growing, vital community with all types and ages of people living there. Increasingly it is pre-dominated by families with young children (there parents commute to New Haven, Hartford, or Fairfield County) and people over 60.

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Local economy is driven by

Education, banking and finance, medical, tourism, real estate, light manufacturing

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Climate and Physical Environment

Madison is situated on the Long Island Sound. Going away from the water the land encounters a series of hilly ridges. Its climate is milder in winter and summer than just a few miles inland, thanks to waters of Long Island Sound.

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Cultural environment

The E.C. Scranton Memorial Library features many programs. There are plans to expand the library to 40,000 sq. ft. with many new features such as a drive-up book-drop (see Parade of Parties). Madison Arts Cinema features first run films. The Madison Sculpture Mile has placed dozens of significant sculptures downtown. Occasional concerts on the green. RJ Julia’s Bookstore has frequent book talks by big name authors. Many interesting art galleries are worth a visit. Long Wharf Theatre and the Yale Rep provide first rate plays in nearby New Haven. Shoreline Institute of Lifelong Learning

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Medical facilities

• Yale New Haven Emergency Clinic (Guilford, 1 mile) • Yale New Haven Hospital (New Haven, 15 miles) • St. Raphael’s Hospital (New Haven, 15 miles) • Middlesex Hospital (Middletown, 20 miles)

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Transportation

• New Haven Airport (15 Miles) • Providence Airport (Providence 70 Miles) • Bradley Airport (Hartford, 70 miles)

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Facts about MADISON

State: CT
Environment: Suburban,Coastal,Small Town,
City Population: 10,000-25,000
Median age of Population: 25-44
Avg Jan Temperature: 21-40
Median HH Income: 80,000+
Average Home Price (MLS): $300,001-$500,000
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: Less than 2000
Total Crime Index: <80 (Very low)
Cost of Living Index: 111-120 (high)
Culture Index: 111-120 (high)
State Sales Tax: Yes
State Income Tax: Yes
Name of the Guide: jb

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