Compare towns
Avon vs Canton vs Colebrook 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Canton | Colebrook | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,946 |
10,144 |
1,494Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Colebrook and Canton 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% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Canton 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% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Avon and Colebrook 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 |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$111,250±$17kLowest 16% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Avon 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 |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,333±$626Lowest 10% 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 |
$7,232 9% above CT |
$6,211Lowest 7% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | — | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Canton School District | Colebrook School District | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Avon High School | Canton High School | None in town | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— | 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.