Compare towns
Bethany vs Old Lyme vs Redding vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Old Lyme has the most renters (11.2% rent).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 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 | Bethany | Old Lyme | Redding | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,679 |
8,780Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Redding and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$131,899±$11kLowest 38% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Redding and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Old Lyme and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Old Lyme 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #10 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 18 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | Joel Barlow High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
11.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.