Compare towns

Redding vs Putnam vs Madison

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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureReddingPutnamMadison
People
Population
8,780
7,120Lowest
17,616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
52±2Highest
27% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
51.9±1.9
26% 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%±2.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
18.1%±2.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Redding and Putnam 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%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25.2%±2.4
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+
72.1%
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
Madison and Putnam 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
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
$167,442±$16k
75% 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
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$583,900±$30k
59% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
$2,025±$741
36% 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$8,843
33% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44%±12.3
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
4%
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90.4%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above CT
25 minLowest
5% below CT
30 min
12% above CT
Work from home
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
30.2%±5.3
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 #128 of 149 in CT #7 of 149 in CT
School district Redding School District · Regional School District 09 — Madison School District
High school in town Joel Barlow High School — Daniel Hand High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
9.8Lowest
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.