Compare towns
Staples vs Weston vs Redding vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Staples has the most expensive homes ($1166k median).
Weston has the most people working from home (44.9%).
Redding has the oldest population (median age 52).
Madison has the shortest commute (30 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 | Staples | Weston | Redding | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,340Lowest |
10,396 |
8,780 |
17,616Highest |
| Median age | 48.7±2.9 18% above CT |
45.7±2.7Lowest 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% 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 | 25.3%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
26.4%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Weston and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest 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+ | 73% CT: 42.5% |
83.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $192,656±$58k 101% above CT |
$250,001Highest 161% above CT |
$186,060±$15k 94% above CT |
$167,442±$16kLowest 75% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,165,500±$64kHighest 218% above CT |
$996,700±$52k 172% above CT |
$706,300±$33k 93% above CT |
$583,900±$30kLowest 59% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,328±$387 56% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$2,025±$741Lowest 36% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,843Lowest 33% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±21.1 CT: 52.6% |
77.9%±36.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Weston and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 43 min 63% above CT |
47 minHighest 76% above CT |
36 min 36% above CT |
30 minLowest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 29.7%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
44.9%±7.5Highest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3 CT: 16% |
| Weston and Redding 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 | — | #5 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Weston School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Madison School District |
| High school in town | — | Weston High School | Joel Barlow High School | Daniel Hand High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.