Compare towns

Durham vs Madison vs Redding

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Madison has the most renters (9.6% rent).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).

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.

MeasureDurhamMadisonRedding
People
Population
7,208Lowest
17,616Highest
8,780
Median age
45.5±2.8Lowest
11% above CT
51.9±1.9
26% above CT
52±2Highest
27% 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
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.1%±2.2
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8Highest
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+
17.4%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25.2%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.3Highest
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+
47.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
72.1%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Madison and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,857±$7kLowest
66% above CT
$167,442±$16k
75% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% 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
$424,800±$23kLowest
16% above CT
$583,900±$30k
59% above CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,154±$448Lowest
22% below CT
$2,025±$741
36% above CT
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
Redding and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,998Lowest
20% above CT
$8,843
33% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±28.4
CT: 52.6%
44%±12.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
3.6%
CT: 10%
4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
90.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below CT
30 min
12% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
Work from home
20.5%±6.4Lowest
CT: 16%
30.2%±5.3
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
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 #88 of 149 in CT #7 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Madison School District Redding School District · Regional School District 09
High school in town Coginchaug Regional High School Daniel Hand High School Joel Barlow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
9.8
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.