Compare towns
Redding vs Putnam vs Plainville 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 renters (40.2% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Putnam | Plainville | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
9,292 |
17,551 |
17,616Highest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Putnam High School | Plainville High School | Daniel Hand High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.