Madison Center
8 Campus Drive, Madison, CT 06443
Living in Madison, Connecticut
Madison is a shoreline town on Long Island Sound in New Haven County, about 15 miles east of New Haven. First settled in 1641 as part of Guilford under the name East Guilford, it was set off and incorporated as its own town in 1826, taking the name Madison after President James Madison. Its shoreline includes Hammonasset Beach State Park, Connecticut's largest state park on the coast.
Madison at a glance
- $716,000Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 23.06 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 25-30 minDrive to New Haven
- New HavenCounty · Connecticut shoreline
Madison's villages and zip codes
Madison uses a single ZIP code, 06443, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Center | 06443 | The town's compact downtown along the Boston Post Road (US Route 1), with Town Campus, shops, and restaurants. |
| North Madison | 06443 | The inland, more wooded northern part of town toward Durham and Killingworth. |
| Hammonasset Point | 06443 | A shoreline neighborhood near Hammonasset Beach State Park. |
Madison covers about 36.2 square miles and borders Guilford, Durham, Killingworth and Clinton. It was incorporated in 1826.
Things to do in Madison, CT
Start with Hammonasset Beach State Park and Scranton Memorial Library, then 2 more below.
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Connecticut's largest shoreline state park, with more than two miles of public beach on Long Island Sound, a boardwalk, and the Meigs Point Nature Center with exhibits on local wildlife. Camping is available at a large campground with electric and non-electric sites.
1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Plan a visitScranton Memorial Library
The town's public library, given to Madison in 1901 by Mary Scranton, with a large lending collection and regular programs.
801 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Plan a visitDowntown Madison / Boston Post Road
A walkable downtown with independent shops, galleries, and restaurants along the historic Boston Post Road.
Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Meigs Point Nature Center
A nature center within Hammonasset Beach State Park with exhibits on shoreline wildlife and the Moraine Trail nearby, known for its glacial rock formations.
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, CT
Plan a visit
More worth a visit
- Madison Green / Historic DistrictA historic district around the town green with 18th- and 19th-century buildings.
A little history
Madison was first settled by Europeans in 1641 as part of Guilford, under the name East Guilford.
The town was set off from Guilford and incorporated in its own right in 1826, taking the name Madison after President James Madison.
Camp Hadley, a Civilian Conservation Corps facility, operated in Madison from 1935 to 1942.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Madison
Madison's more than two miles of Long Island Sound shoreline, most of it within Hammonasset Beach State Park, is the town's defining outdoor feature.
- Hammonasset Beach State ParkSwimming, surf casting, birdwatching, and a boardwalk along Connecticut's longest public beach.More information
- Moraine TrailA trail near Meigs Point with glacial rock formations and shoreline views.
- East River PreserveSalt marsh and preserve land along the East River near the Guilford line.
Where to eat in Madison: restaurants and coffee
4 places in Madison to try, including seafood restaurant and seafood shack. No one paid to be listed.
Donahue's Madison Beach Grille
Seafood restaurant
A beachside restaurant on the Boston Post Road serving seafood and casual fare with sound views.
1320 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443 · donahuesmadisonbeachgrille.com
Clam Castle
Seafood shack
A classic roadside seafood stand on the Boston Post Road known for whole-belly clams and lobster rolls.
1381 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443
Bar Bouchee
French bistro
A French bistro in downtown Madison known for steak frites and prix-fixe dinners.
Downtown Madison, CT
Cafe Allegre
Italian restaurant
An Italian restaurant in downtown Madison.
Downtown Madison, CT
Walkability and getting around Madison
Downtown Madison along the Boston Post Road is compact and walkable, with shops and restaurants close together, but North Madison and most residential neighborhoods away from the center are spread out and require a car.
North Madison
Hammonasset Point
Drive times
- New Haven, about 15 miles25-30 min
- Tweed New Haven Airport, about 15 miles25-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Shore Line East commuter rail stops in Madison, connecting to New Haven and Old Saybrook. Estuary Transit District buses also serve the town. Madison is also served by I-95, US Route 1, and Routes 79 and 80.
Madison property taxes and home prices
Madison's 2026–27 mill rate is 23.06, which is $23.06 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $1,614 a year in taxes at 23.06 mills.
What homes in Madison sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | $716,000194 sales | $480,00034 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Madison's mill rate for 2026–27
23.06mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Madison23.06 mills
- Kelsey Place Beach Association (where it applies)+0.867 mills
- Overshore Association (where it applies)+0.249 mills
- Seafields Association Inc (where it applies)+0.023 mills
- Motor vehicles23.06 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2028
How Madison's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 29.41 |
| 2023–24 | 29.97 |
| 2024–25 | 22.00 |
| 2025–26 | 22.43 |
| 2026–27 | 23.06 |
Madison's town rate went from 29.41 in 2022–23 to 23.06 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2028.
Look up a Madison property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
- Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment
Buying a home in Madison
What we check on a Madison purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map, coastal flood zones and well & septic.
First-time buyer programs in Madison
CHFA sets Madison's income and price limits for New Haven County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
Madison's Long Island Sound shoreline, including areas near Hammonasset Beach and the East and Hammonasset rivers, puts low-lying coastal parcels within FEMA-mapped flood zones and subject to storm surge risk. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for MadisonShoreline property often needs flood insurance
Parts of Madison along Long Island Sound and its tidal rivers fall within FEMA flood zones, which can require flood insurance for a mortgaged property. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a shoreline property.
No town sewers; every property uses septic
Madison has no municipal sewer system and participates in a sewer-avoidance program, so every property relies on a private septic system, and many, especially in North Madison, use private wells. Buyers should have septic systems inspected before making an offer.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Madison?
Send us a Madison address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Madison: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Madison: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasEversource provides natural gas to parts of town; some areas have no natural gas service
- WaterAquarion Water Company serves developed areas; many properties, especially in North Madison, rely on private wells
- Sewer or septicMadison has no municipal sewer system and participates in a sewer-avoidance program; all properties use private septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingMadison has no municipal curbside trash pickup. Residents either contract with a private hauler or bring trash and recycling to the Guilford-Madison Transfer Station, which the two towns operate jointly under a pay-as-you-throw system using town-official bags.
Guilford-Madison Transfer Station
1900 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT
Pay-as-you-throw using official trash bags, effective November 2024
Transfer station detailsTown offices and contacts
Madison Town Hall is at 8 Campus Drive, Madison, CT 06443. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Friday 8:30 AM-Noon. Main line: 203-245-5600. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website203-245-5600
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning & ZoningZoning, land use, and planning applications.
- Beach & Recreation DepartmentTown beaches, parks, and recreation programs.
- Scranton Memorial LibraryThe town's public library.
- Madison Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Madison, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Madison, CT?
Madison's 2026–27 mill rate is 23.06, which is $23.06 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. The motor vehicle rate is 23.06 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Madison?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 23.06 mills that's about $8,071 a year, or about $673 a month, before any district tax. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Madison, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Madison was $716,000 across 194 sales. The median condo sale was $480,000 across 34 sales.
When is Madison's next revaluation?
Madison's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2028, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2029.
What county is Madison, CT in?
Madison is in New Haven County, on the Connecticut shoreline.
What ZIP code does Madison use?
Madison uses a single ZIP code, 06443, for the whole town.
Does Madison have curbside trash pickup?
No. Madison has no municipal curbside collection; residents use a private hauler or the jointly-run Guilford-Madison Transfer Station.
Does Madison have public sewers?
No. Madison has no municipal sewer system; all properties use private septic systems.
Is there a train station in Madison?
Yes. Shore Line East stops in Madison, connecting to New Haven and Old Saybrook.
How far is Madison from New Haven?
Madison is about 15 miles from New Haven, roughly a 25-30 minute drive.
Towns near Madison
Neighbors of Madison in New Haven County and nearby. All New Haven County towns.
Sources
- Mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "Mill Rates for FY 2014–2027," data.ct.gov. Revaluation year: OPM, Revaluation Schedule 2023–2037.
- Home sales: "Real Estate Sales 2001–2024 GL," data.ct.gov. Medians use Madison sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Madison, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Madison official website: madisonct.org
- Guilford-Madison Transfer Station - Madison, CT: madisonct.org
- Private Wells - Madison, CT: madisonct.org
- Hammonasset Beach State Park - CT DEEP: portal.ct.gov
- Scranton Memorial Library: scrantonlibrary.org
- Madison, Connecticut photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Léo Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.