The Hammocks on Long Island Sound
Madison, Connecticut
Madison, Connecticut
What It Is Like to Retire in Madison
Madison CT 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 place to retire 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. 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. The Madison Beach & Recreation Department has an extensive list of programs and activities to keep all ages busy and engaged. 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.
Where to Retire in Madison and Home Prices
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. Zillow reports the Medium Home Value was $612,858 in mid-2023. Beachfront homes sell for millions and pay very high taxes. Condominiums can vary in price depending on which development.
What Is Special about Madison
• 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) •The Madison Beach Hotel provides a nice place on the water for a drink, meal, or weekend stay • The downtown Senior Center has many programs and facilities
What Is Not Special about Madison
• 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 property taxes.
Who Will Like Retirement in Madison
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 (parents commute to New Haven, Hartford, or Fairfield County) and people over 60.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Education, banking and finance, medical, tourism, real estate, light manufacturing
Climate and Physical Environment
Madison is situated on the Long Island Sound midway between New Haven and Old Saybrook. 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. The average July high temperature is 84 degrees. The average January high is 36 and the low is 20. The wettest month is October (5").
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
The E.C. Scranton Memorial Library features many programs. There are plans to expand the library with many new features with drive-up book-drop. Madison Arts Cinema features first run films. The Madison Sculpture Mile has placed dozens of significant sculptures downtown. Occasional concerts in the First Congregational Church & on the green, especially the 4th of July. 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 New Haven. Shoreline Institute of Lifelong Learning is also here.
Crime
Crime in Madison is practically nonexistent - barely 20 percent of the national average.
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)
Transportation
New Haven Airport (15 Miles), Providence Airport (Providence 70 Miles), Bradley Airport (Hartford, 70 miles)
Valuable Links
City of Madison Madison on WikipediaMadison Chamber of Commerce
Comments on "Madison"
Jim says:
Spent almost 18 years in this town. A Beautiful place!