Madison, CT

Shoreline living with Connecticut’s longest public beach

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About Madison

Madison sits in the middle of Connecticut’s shoreline, about 20 miles east of New Haven. It’s known for its walkable downtown on the Boston Post Road, historic homes, and Hammonasset Beach State Park.

Quick Facts

  • Population: 17,691 (2020 U.S. Census)

  • County: New Haven

  • School district: Madison Public Schools

  • Getting around: I-95, and a Shore Line East train station in town

  • Housing: mostly single-family homes, from beach cottages to colonials

Restaurants

  • Bar Bouchee: French bistro known for steak frites

  • Bradley & Wall: elevated American cuisine

  • Cafe Allegre: refined Italian dining

  • Clam Castle: classic roadside seafood since the 1960s

Coffee Shops

  • Madison Coffee House: family-owned, with breakfast and baked goods

  • Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea

  • RJ Cafe & Bistro: cozy, book-lined cafe downtown

Shops

  • R.J. Julia Booksellers: one of the country’s best-known independent bookstores, with hundreds of author events a year

  • Meriano’s: Italian pastries, cannoli and custom cakes

  • Downtown boutiques along the Boston Post Road

Things To Do

  • Hammonasset Beach State Park: Connecticut’s longest public beach, with a boardwalk, campground and Meigs Point Nature Center

  • Fall bird migration walks at Hammonasset

  • Author events at R.J. Julia

  • Strolling downtown Madison and the town green

Thinking about buying or selling in Madison? Let’s talk.

For more town data, see the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts and EdSight, the state’s school data site. Local business listings are my personal recommendations, not paid endorsements; please check hours before visiting.