Compare towns
Madison vs Durham vs Redding
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most renters (9.6% rent).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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.
| Measure | Madison | Durham | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
7,208Lowest |
8,780 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% 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 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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 | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$158,857±$7kLowest 66% 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 | $583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below 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 | $8,843 33% above CT |
$7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 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 | 3.6% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest 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 | 30 min 12% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Lowest 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 | #7 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Regional School District 13 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
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.