Compare towns
Andover vs Madison vs Redding vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Columbia has the most renters (16.7% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Madison | Redding | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
17,616Highest |
8,780 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Lowest 25% above CT |
51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
| Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Madison School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Joel Barlow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.