Compare towns

Bethany vs Redding vs Beacon Falls

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).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k 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.

MeasureBethanyReddingBeacon Falls
People
Population
5,288Lowest
8,780Highest
6,147
Median age
42.5±2.9Lowest
3% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
48.4±3.8
18% above CT
Redding and Beacon Falls 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%
19.1%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Bethany and Redding 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%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Redding and Beacon Falls 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%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2
CT: 7.1%
Bethany and Beacon Falls 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
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$101,516±$42kLowest
6% 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
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$350,300±$34kLowest
5% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,921±$286Lowest
29% above CT
Redding and Beacon Falls 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$6,534Lowest
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%
CT: 10%
4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
85.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
3 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
21% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
33 min
23% above CT
Work from home
12%±5.2Lowest
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4
CT: 16%
Redding and Beacon Falls 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 #14 of 149 in CT #77 of 149 in CT
School district Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Regional School District 16
High school in town None in town Joel Barlow High School Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.