Compare towns
Madison vs Monroe 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
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Madison Center has the most renters (38.8% 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 | Madison | Monroe | Redding | Madison Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
18,949Highest |
8,780 |
1,981Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
52±2 27% above CT |
60.4±6.3Highest 47% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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% |
57.3%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% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±5.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison Center and Madison 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 |
$157,250±$12kLowest 64% above CT |
$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 |
$503,200±$31kLowest 37% above 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 |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below 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 | $8,843Lowest 33% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% 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% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.6%±16.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Monroe School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Masuk High School | Joel Barlow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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.