Compare towns
Bethany vs Prospect vs Redding vs Bolton
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 most homeowners (97.2%).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 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 | Prospect | Redding | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
9,458Highest |
8,780 |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Bethany 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 |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$126,364±$19kLowest 32% 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±$42k 14% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Redding and Prospect 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 |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Prospect 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% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
88%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 16 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.