Compare towns
Madison vs Putnam vs Redding vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% 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 | Putnam | Redding | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,616 |
7,120Lowest |
8,780 |
25,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% 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%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 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% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Ridgefield 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below 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% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | — | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | — | Joel Barlow High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.