Compare towns
Redding vs Winchester vs Madison vs Ridgefield
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 people working from home (32.5%).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% 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 | Winchester | Madison | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,780Lowest |
10,284 |
17,616 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 52±2Highest 27% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% 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%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Ridgefield 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 |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$167,442±$16k 75% above CT |
$179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$583,900±$30k 59% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
| Redding and Ridgefield 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 |
$4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
30 min 12% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Madison School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Joel Barlow High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Daniel Hand High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.7Lowest |
9.8 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.