Compare towns

Redding vs Washington 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 highest household income ($186k).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($584k 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.

MeasureReddingWashingtonMadison
People
Population
8,780
3,676Lowest
17,616Highest
Median age
52±2Highest
27% above CT
49.9±5.5Lowest
21% 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%
19%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
18.1%±2.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Redding and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.4%±3.3
CT: 18.5%
26.9%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
25.2%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Washington and Redding 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%
53.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
Washington 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
$101,549±$16kLowest
6% above 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
$660,200±$130k
80% above CT
$583,900±$30kLowest
59% above CT
Redding and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,204±$264Lowest
19% 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
$4,709Lowest
29% below CT
$8,843
33% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
26.1%±24Lowest
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%
9%Highest
CT: 10%
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
79%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90.4%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above CT
26 minLowest
4% below CT
30 min
12% above CT
Work from home
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
20.1%±9Lowest
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 #17 of 149 in CT #7 of 149 in CT
School district Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Regional School District 12 Madison School District
High school in town Joel Barlow High School Shepaug Valley School Daniel Hand High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
9.1Lowest
9.8
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.