Compare towns
Madison vs Hamden vs Redding vs Madison Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k 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 | Hamden | Redding | Madison Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
61,045Highest |
8,780 |
1,981Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
52±2 27% above CT |
60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest 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% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
35.5%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±5.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$178,194±$59k 86% above CT |
| Redding and Madison Center 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$841,800±$105kHighest 129% above CT |
| Madison Center and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,914±$1k 29% 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 |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.6%±16.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
27.2%±10.1 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Hamden High School | Joel Barlow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.