Compare towns
Ridgefield vs Madison vs Redding
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ridgefield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($584k median).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Ridgefield | Madison | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,109Highest |
17,616 |
8,780Lowest |
| Median age | 45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above CT |
51.9±1.9 26% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% 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 | 24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest 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+ | 72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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 | $179,219±$12k 87% above CT |
$167,442±$16kLowest 75% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% 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 | $836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$583,900±$30kLowest 59% above CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$2,025±$741Lowest 36% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% 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 |
$8,843Lowest 33% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest 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 | 3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above CT |
30 minLowest 12% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 29.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ridgefield School District | Madison School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Ridgefield High School | Daniel Hand High School | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.