What Will Madison Look Like In The Future?

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MADISON, CT - Madison is losing population, especially in the 20-34 age group. At a recent Board of Selectmen meeting, the selectmen heard a presentation from Town Planner David Anderson, who went over a report on the town of Madison’s demographics prepared by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center

Madison’s population is about 18,200. Projections are that population will decrease by another 200 or so – to 18,000 by the year 2020.

Anderson said while it is well known that Connecticut is losing population, especially in the millennial – or young professional – age group, Madison is losing that demographic at a higher rate than most towns in Connecticut.

“Madison has a real hole in the 20-34 year olds,” Anderson said, adding that the Economic Development Commission is trying “to target” that problem.

“We have great schools, great recreational opportunities, thriving downtown,” Anderson said. “We are trying to make that case.”

Understanding that many millennials want to be in the city, Anderson said many young people, especially those raising families, want to live in towns.

The CERC report showed that Madison is far less dense – at 503 residents per square mile – than the New Haven County average, which is 1,490 residents per square mile.

“One statistic that jumped out at me,” Anderson told the selectmen, “is the percentage of the workforce that works out of their home. Fifteen percent are self-employed,” Anderson said, adding that didn’t count the many professionals who work for a company but often work remotely from their homes.

Anderson added the CERC report showed that, “Our grand list is heavily reliant on property tax, which we all knew.”

Anderson said one thing the report made clear is how much Madison needs New Haven to thrive.

“We really need to support New Haven,” Anderson said, stating a majority of the workforce that lives in Madison still leaves each morning to go somewhere else to work – a lot of that in New Haven.

Anderson said the Economic Development Commission, zoners, and town officials are trying to identify spots in town that might be good areas for higher density residential development but not “hurt the character of the town.”

He identified those areas as parts of downtown center, Bradley Road, Cottage Road, parts of Route 79 and Route 1.

One other interest aspect of the report, Anderson said, was the high what he termed “vacant housing rate” the town has.

He said that statistic is a bit misleading, because the houses – for the most part – aren’t actually vacant, but are owned by people who don’t live in Madison year-round.

That has spawned another problem, Anderson said.

He said as the rent-a-home industry has taken off, due to the Internet, over the past few years, Madison has become a desirable location for vacationers/renters.

He said the issue with that is “some people in the neighborhoods might not appreciate not knowing who is across the street.”

Photos/Jack Kramer