Compare towns
Redding vs Andover vs Madison vs Old Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Old Lyme has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Redding | Andover | Madison | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780 |
3,152Lowest |
17,616Highest |
7,679 |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
50.6±3.3Lowest 23% 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 | 19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Old Lyme and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$131,899±$11kLowest 38% 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 | $706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$376,500±$36kLowest about the CT average |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,166±$745Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,554 about the CT average |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 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 | #14 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Andover School District | Madison School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.8 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.