Compare towns
Avon vs Bethany vs Putnam vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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.
| Measure | Avon | Bethany | Putnam | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,946 |
5,288Lowest |
9,292 |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.1±1.4Highest 10% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Avon and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$20k 31% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,371 41% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Ridgefield 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 | #31 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Avon High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.