Compare towns
Madison vs Sterling 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Sterling | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
3,629Lowest |
8,780 |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below 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%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Lowest 36% above 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Madison 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above CT |
35 min 34% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Sterling School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.