Compare towns
Madison vs Durham vs Redding vs Guilford
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).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
7,208Lowest |
8,780 |
22,108Highest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
51.1±1.9 24% 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%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Redding 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%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Redding 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% |
60.6% 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% |
3.7%±1 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±$7k 66% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$137,816±$11kLowest 44% 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 |
$515,800±$40k 41% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,717±$128 15% 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 |
$8,744 32% 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% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Guilford 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% CT: 10% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest 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 |
1974 7 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 |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3 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 | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Regional School District 13 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Joel Barlow High School | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
11.8Highest |
| 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.