Compare towns

Madison vs Thomaston vs Redding

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thomaston 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.

MeasureMadisonThomastonRedding
People
Population
17,616Highest
7,492Lowest
8,780
Median age
51.9±1.9
26% above CT
41.5±7.7Lowest
about the CT average
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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston 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%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
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%
34%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.1%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Madison and Thomaston 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
$103,218±$15kLowest
8% 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
$282,600±$23kLowest
23% below CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,025±$741
36% above CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below 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
$5,915Lowest
11% below CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44%±12.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.4%
CT: 66.5%
77.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
36 minHighest
36% above CT
Work from home
30.2%±5.3
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
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 #106 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT
School district Madison School District Thomaston School District Redding School District · Regional School District 09
High school in town Daniel Hand High School Thomaston High School Joel Barlow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
10.7
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.