Compare towns
Redding vs Durham 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).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($402k 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 | Durham | Madison | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780 |
3,347Lowest |
17,616Highest |
7,679 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
47.9±5.4Lowest 17% above CT |
51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
50.6±3.3 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% |
15%±4.6Lowest 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% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
42.4%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% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Durham 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 |
$152,396±$32k 59% 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 |
$401,700±$32kLowest 9% above CT |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,625±$1kLowest 9% above 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 |
$7,107 7% above CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Lowest 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — | Madison School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | — | 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.